Final Outline
1. Introduction (300–500 words)
– Introduce transitional justice (TJ) as a post-conflict mechanism with developmental aspirations.
– Present your thesis: while Colombia’s peace accord is praised for inclusivity, its developmental impacts are constrained by state neglect, persistent inequalities, and marginalization in peripheral regions.
– Briefly introduce the case study focus (Colombian Amazon, Afro-Colombian and Indigenous land struggles) to set up the argument
2. Contextual Background: Transitional Justice in Colombia (600–800 words)
– Brief history of conflict and the evolution of transitional justice mechanisms in Colombia.
– Outline the 2016 Peace Accord and its key components: rural reform, political participation, reintegration, and transitional justice.
– Deep dive into the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP):
n Its creation, mandate, and structure.
n Emphasis on restorative logic, truth-telling, victim participation, and reintegration.
Reference the reading: “Colombia: The Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Analysis One Year and a Half After its Entry into Operation” to support discussion on institutional design and intentions.
3. The JEP and Its Developmental Implications (700–900 words)
– Discuss the potential developmental contributions of the JEP:
n Victim-centered approach and participatory justice.
n Symbolic reparations, reduction of stigma, civic trust-building.
n Land restitution and rural reform as development tools.
– Then critique these:
n Are they reaching the periphery?
n Challenges of weak state capacity in rural areas.
n Poor infrastructure, security risks, and low institutional presence in zones like the Amazon.
4. Case Study: Land Struggles and Regional Inequalities in the Colombian Amazon (1,000–1,200 words)
– Provide a detailed examination of the Afro-Colombian, Indigenous, and campesinx land struggles:
n Describe the communities’ historical marginalization, exposure to conflict, and displacement.
n Explain their collective claims to territory, land restitution efforts, and legal struggles.
– Connect to transitional justice:
n Analyze how symbolic inclusion in the peace process has not translated into material development or justice.
n Discuss how state-led developmental promises (like land reform) have not been realized in these territories.
n Use the case study to challenge assumptions in TJ literature that restorative justice mechanisms inherently lead to development.
5. Challenges to Developmental Justice in Practice (600–800 words)
– Focus on implementation gaps:
n Budget shortfalls, political backlash, institutional fragmentation.
– Emphasize regional inequality as a structural barrier:
n Peripheral zones lack the institutional capacity to carry out land restitution and reintegration plans.
n Violence and control by armed actors persist in many areas, particularly the Amazon.
– Reinforce that marginalized victim groups remain excluded from the full benefits of peace, despite formal inclusion.
6. Conclusion (300–500 words)
– Summarize your key findings:
n TJ in Colombia is progressive in design but uneven in implementation.
n The case study shows that victim inclusion has not been matched with developmental justice.
– Offer policy recommendations:
n Greater integration of socio-economic rights into TJ frameworks.
n Decentralized implementation, increased resources, and support for local leadership and victim agency.
– Suggest directions for future research, such as comparative studies on regional disparities in TJ outcomes.