"Reconciliation is not about being cozy; it is not about pretending that things were other than they were. Reconciliation based on falsehood, on not facing up to reality, is not reconciliation at all." -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Definition:

A process that draws on truth, justice and mercy to turn temporary peace into a lasting end to a conflict.

Users:

Anyone dealing with lingering emotional burdens from an intense conflict. Especially if these emotions threaten to restart the conflict.

Description:

Through reconciliation, parties explore and overcome the pain from conflict and attempt to build trust. Because reconciliation is a new concept in the new field of conflict resolution, there is no standard definition of it. However, almost everyone acknowledges that it includes four components identified by John Paul Lederach: truth, justice, mercy, and peace. Lederach's use of the term "mercy" hints at religious roots. Reconciliation is present in all the Abrahamic faiths and is particularly important to Evangelical Christians.

Reconciliation occurs one person at a time and is normally a long, difficult process. The consequences of not reconciling can be enormous. In peace researcher Fen Osler Hampson's terms, too many peace agreements are "orphaned." That is, the parties reach an agreement that stops the fighting but does little to contribute to stable peace, which can only occur when the issues that gave rise to the conflict are addressed to the satisfaction of all. At worst, without reconciliation, the fighting can break out again.

The most famous reconciliation process is South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which held hearings into human rights abuses during the apartheid era and offered amnesty to people who showed genuine remorse for their actions. Since the TRC was created in 1995, about 20 other such commissions have been created

Reconciliation cannot be forced on people. It is a "bottom up" process and thus cannot be imposed by the state or any other institution. However, as the South African example shows, governments can do a lot to promote reconciliation. It is probably even harder for outsiders to spark reconciliation than it is for governments. Most successful efforts at reconciliation have, in fact, been led by locals. The TRC was chaired by Desmond Tutu, a black clergyman, while its vice president was Alex Boraine, a white pastor. Both were outspoken opponents of apartheid, but they also included whites who had supported the old regime. However, various NGO's have had some success with reconciliation efforts in countries like Rwanda and Bosnia.

Even though reconciliation mostly involves people talking to each other, it is not easy to achieve. Rather, it is among the most difficult things people are ever called on to do. Victims have to forgive oppressors. The perpetrators of crimes against humanity have to admit their guilt and their arrogance. It is not easy to forgive; but it is also clear how far doing so relieves the pain people have carried inside them for years.

Examples:

One example is the remarkable documentary, "Long Night's Journey Into Day," about four cases considered by the South African Truth and Reconciliation committee. One involved a black police officer who lured seven activists into a trap where they were all killed by the authorities. The last scene, shows a meeting he held with the mothers of the seven boys where he begs for forgiveness. It is clear that his remorse is heart-felt. At first, the mothers, whose pain remains raw, refuse to forgive him. Then, one of them asks if his first name means "prayer" and when he says it does, you can literally watch the mothers draw on their own Christianity and find the mental space to forgive the former officer.

Applications:

Reconciliation is important in any deep-rooted conflict when the parties need to live or work together in the future. Even if they do not, the apology and forgiveness necessary for reconciliation can help heal internal wounds and allow parties to recover from the trauma of the conflict and move forward more positively into their future life.

Links to Related Articles: