1)​ Trauma memorials are physical representations of conflict and allow the memorialization

of traumatic experiences, therefore acknowledging and recognising the suffering victims

had to endure. Additionally, memorials can be used to spread truth and awareness of past
events, reducing misinformation and supporting the victims’ right to know. Lastly,
through the process of remembrance, trauma memorials can be used as a tool that
promotes the guarantee of non-recurrence for victims. 3/3

2)​ Peacebuilding involves addressing root causes of conflict with the hopes of achieving
positive peace. In source B, peacebuilding can be seen through the initiatives
implemented in Liberia to de-escalate conflict, rebuild infrastructure, and address
systemic issues. Source B shows the measures taken to resolve the issue at a structural
level, this can be seen with the election of Africa’s first female head of state as well as the
reintegration of former combatants into society through vocational training and education
programs, and the establishment of A Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address
historical grievances. These measures show an effort to achieve positive peace and
reconcile the country after two civil wars. However, peacebuilding initiatives can be seen
as controversial, particularly when there’s heavy outsider interference as seen with R2P.
The UN’s implementation of R2P against Qaddafi which allowed NATO forces to breach
Libya’s sovereignty in order to protect civilians quickly led to a destabilizing
regime-change operation resulting in a civil war. Therefore, the intervention that was
supposed to de-escalate the rising conflict and human rights violations ended up
worsening the situation, leading to criticism of R2P and peacemaking / peacebuilding
missions. More broadly, peacebuilding is often criticized for its emphasis on democratic
governance, market-oriented economic reforms, imposition of western-centric models
which may lead to unstable or superficial peace. Moreover, the interference of western
countries can be seen as a form of neocolonialism. 2/4

3)​ Transitional justice refers to the range of approaches that societies undertake to reckon
with legacies of widespread or systematic human rights abuses as they move from a
period of violent conflict or oppression towards peace, democracy, the rule of law, and
respect for individual and collective rights. Source C recounts the protests occurring in
Johannesburg lead by victims of the apartheid, who are demanding reparations for the
abuses they suffered. The protestors are part of support / campaign groups fighting for
financial redress for the victims of white minority rule under apartheid. Contraryly,
source D looks at the armed conflict between Maoist insurgents and Nepali government
forces that ended with a peace agreement in 2006. However, little has been done to
provide justice for victims of the conflict. There have been hardly any successful
prosecutions. Not only does the lack of justice impact families who have lost loved ones,
but it also allows for the recurrence of abuse. Though both sources show the TRCs
inability to bring justice to victims, one of the major differences between Source C and D
 is the ability of civilians to demand justice. In source C we see that victims are able to
demand reparations and impose consequences like abstaining from voting if their needs
aren’t met. Moreover, source C shows some of the government’s efforts such as providing
reparations even though the protestors weren’t able to benefit from them as they were not
considered victims. Contrarily, in Source D we see ongoing abuse and violence in
post-conflict Nepal by the same actors involved in the initial fighting. We also see a lack
of government action in properly implementing and prosecuting abusers. 7/8
Sim
-in both S. Africa and Nepal trans justice has not delivered prevention of violence, positive peace
-in both cases little judicial accountability
-in both no reparations/compensation to victims
Diff
-C emph economic aspect of transitional justice/reparations, D emph judicial/justice for war crimes
-C = SAfrica transitional justice somewhat effective, ie truth telling but amnesty for perpetrators was built
into process - prevented alienation/enable white buy-in for ending Apartheid; Nepal not effective -
perpetrators emboldened to continue violence
-No memorialization/truth telling in Nepal
-SAfrica victims resist/threaten to withhold vote, have some voice; Nepali victims are weaker and
continue to be targeted by police AND Maoist insurgents

4)​ Evaluate the claim : Seeking Justice Obstructs Peace

Interpreting the claim “seeking justice obstructs peace” heavily depends on one's
understanding of peace. If peace is simply understood as negative peace, or the absence of war
then one might put emphasis on the importance of disarming and stopping immediate conflict.
However, if one’s understanding of peace is more holistic, understanding it to be not only the
absence of direct, physical violence, but also the absence of structural and cultural violence, then
seeking justice would be seen as a vital step in the peacebuilding process.

​ I believe that to achieve long-term, sustainable peace, victims of conflict need to receive
justice. This can be seen in post-genocide Rwanda. After the Rwandan genocide, the new
government in power, the RPF, implemented a series of reforms aimed at achieving peace. A key
component of Rwanda’s peacebuilding mission was transitional justice for victims of the
genocide. To begin, the Rwandan government removed any form of ethnic identification,
emphasizing the importance of one collective national identity. This served as a significant step
in addressing the cultural violence that had been institutionalized through decades of colonial
and post-colonial policies, which entrenched ethnic divisions between Hutus and Tutsis. By
fostering a collective national identity, the government sought to break down the ethnic barriers
that had fueled the genocide, paving the way for reconciliation and unity. Additionally, the
government sought to address the grievances of survivors and ensure accountability for
perpetrators. One of the ways this was done was through the installment of Gacaca courts that
aimed to deliver justice by holding perpetrators accountable. These courts not only provided
survivors with a platform to voice their grievances but also fostered dialogue between
perpetrators and victims, facilitating reintegration into society. This approach demonstrates the
need for justice and reconciliation in achieving long-term peace.

Constratingly source C shows the long-term repercussions of failing to deliver justice. In

South Africa the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was intended to promote national
reconciliation post apartheid. However, many victims were not recognized by the TRC leaving
them with little to no reparations. This lack of justice has led to an uprising in protests
demanding for financial redress with many threatening to abstain from upcoming elections.
Source C demonstrates that neglecting justice perpetuates division and resentment, undermining
trust and stability. Similarly, in source D the impunity of perpetrators and the lack of
accountability from perpetrators highlights how peace becomes fragile when victims feel
excluded from post-conflict processes. Justice is essential not only to address past wrongs but
also to prevent these unresolved tensions from destabilizing peace in the long run. Additionally,
lack of justice increases the risk of conflict resurgence as seen in source D where impunity for
past crimes means that abusive individuals and institutions continue to claim new victims, further
obstructing peace.

However, it can be argued that seeking justice can obstruct peace by prioritizing
accountability over the pragmatic need to end violence and maintain stability. From a realist
perspective, prosecuting powerful actors involved in a conflict, such as political leaders, may
deter them from participating in peace negotiations as they may fear retribution. This can
prolong conflicts, as seen in situations like the Syrian Civil war, where calls for accountability
against Bashar al-Assad have hindered possibilities for negotiation.

In conclusion, while seeking justice may pose short-term challenges to peace, it is

essential for addressing grievances, fostering reconciliation, and preventing future violence. The
example of Rwanda highlights the importance in achieving justice for long term stability and
peace, while the examples in source C and D show the risks of neglecting justice and how that
can obstruct peace. Ultimately, justice and peace are interdependent and must be pursued
together for long term stability.

Rubric for # 4
Marks Level descriptor

0 • The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
 1-2 • There is a very limited understanding of the demands of the question.
• There is little relevant knowledge.
• The response is mostly descriptive and may contain unsupported generalizations.

3-4 • There is a limited understanding of the demands of the question, or the question is
only partially addressed.
• Some knowledge is demonstrated, but this is not always relevant or accurate, and may
not be used appropriately or effectively.
• Counterclaims, or different views on the question, are not identified.

• The response shows an understanding of the demands of the question.

5-6 • Knowledge is mostly accurate and relevant, and there is some limited synthesis of
own knowledge and source material.
• Counterclaims, or different views on the question, are implicitly identified but are not
explored.

7-8 • The response is focused and shows a good understanding of the demands of the
question.
• Relevant and accurate knowledge is demonstrated, there is a synthesis of own
knowledge and source material, and appropriate examples are used.
• Counterclaims, or different views on the question, are explored.

Some good arguments but needs clarity - justice as a prerequisite for peace, justice as an
obstacle, balance of justice and peace → restorative and not only retributive,
amnesty/forgiveness

9-10 • The response is clearly focused and shows a high degree of understanding of the
demands of the question.
• Relevant and accurate knowledge is demonstrated, there is effective synthesis of own
knowledge and source material, with appropriate examples integrated.
• Counterclaims, or different views on the question, are explored and evaluated.

20/25=6-