In this episode of Localization in World Politics, we are joined by Denisa Kostovicova, Professor in Global Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science and Director of Research on South Eastern Europe at LSE’s European Institute, to discuss her award-winning book, Reconciliation by Stealth: How People Talk About War Crimes (Cornell University Press, 2023). Our conversation explores RECOM, an innovative regional and multi-ethnic civil society initiative that worked to address the legacy of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia through open dialogue, meaningful conversation, and mutual acknowledgement across ethnic divides. We also discuss how discourse shapes transitional justice, why empathetic engagement matters, and the complex ways that gender influences participation and decision-making in post-conflict environments. Professor Kostovicova encourages us to rethink transitional justice, shifting our attention from individual actors to the interactions and relationships that foster recognition, dialogue, and social transformation.
The Journal of International and Statebuilding Special Issue on “Interactions for Justice" which is also discussed can be found here.
Host: Adam Kochanski
Producer: Angelina Rajic
Theme Music: Nesterouk, Courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.
The Localization in World Politics podcast is supported by funding from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada “Insight Grant,” and is part of the “Norms in Motion” research project. To learn more about the “Norms in Motion” project, please follow @normsinmotion on Bluesky and/or Twitter.
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