Introduction: On irreconciliation

Most post-conflict reconciliatory exercises make it incumbent upon survivors to forgive, and seek closure as a demonstration of ‘moving on’. Various anthropologists have criticized reconciliation related forms ‘alternative justice’ extensively but within the framework maintaining social bonds rule law. In this introduction, I reflect critically on interdisciplinary scholarship reconciliation, apology, forgiveness, theorize irreconciliation less examined lens analysis. Rather than being in opposition ‘peace’, allows us interrogate status quo by refusing forgive endemic impunities, particularly aftermath staged processes justice absence-presence special issue JRAI, ethnographically explore irreconciliation's links with law, aesthetics, temporality, resistance, control locate its multiple analytical manifestations. Irreconciliation an important examination law unresolved genocidal injustices debates relating slavery, Black Lives Matter, institutional responses. Introduction : de l'irréconciliation Résumé La plupart des exercices réconciliation engagés à l'issue d'un conflit imposent aux survivants pardonner et chercher une manière résolution pour « aller l'avant ». Divers anthropologues ont formulé critiques la formes apparentées alternative », sans sortir du cadre maintien liens sociaux l’État droit. Dans cette l'autrice pose un regard critique sur les travaux interdisciplinaires étudiant réconciliation, l'excuse le pardon, elle théorise prisme d'analyse moins usité celui l'irréconciliation. Au lieu s'inscrire en paix permet d'interroger statu refusant pardon impunités endémiques, notamment au terme procédures judiciaires mises scène l'absence-présence ce dossier, propose exploration ethnographique entre droit, l'esthétique, temporalité, résistance contrôle, afin d'en localiser multiples manifestations analytiques. L'irréconciliation est moyen droit dans génocidaires irrésolues débats l'esclavage, Matter réponses institutions. As Bangladeshi can tell is never possible until 1971 events are faced, discussed resolved through justice. Genocide took place there daydream think that Bangladeshis will just forget or bypass that. 1882 lecture, ‘Qu'est-ce qu'une nation?’ (‘What nation?’), French historian Ernest Renan (1896: 165) famously proclaimed forgetting past acts violence was essential for future nation. Jacques Derrida extends discussion argue that, hiding fundamental destruction amnesia, narratives nation made (2001: 57). This ‘apparent amnesia’ (Forty 1999: 8),11 For discussions various forgetting, ‘remembering forget’, ‘knowing what not narrate’, see Mookherjee (2006; 2019) Rowlands (1999). long-term unacknowledgement impunity those who perpetrated violence, has been prevalent historical political contexts. ‘That’ above quote Hossein refers similar non-recognition widespread Pakistani army Bengali non-Bengali collaborators against East Pakistanis during Bangladesh War 1971,22 used instead liberation war independence avoid semantic party attachments. which also led formation Bangladesh.33 varied accounts War, Akhtar, Begum, Hossein, Kamal & Guhathakurta (2001); Bass (2013); Mascarenhas (1971); (2015); Muhith (1992). contrast Renan's argument about apparent amnesias, (as evident opening quote) refuses ‘faced’ Jacco Visser (this volume) shows, activists, impossible move forward tackled. because they feel rooted continue present. focus issue: ethnographic instances refusal response persistent injustices, face selective claim redress. The plays vital role sometimes questioning, predominantly sustaining, quo. contributors volume noticed, remain academic literature, paid more attention dominant languages transitional Transitional identified United Nations Security Council (2004) official policy societies (Wilson 2020: 18). It taken up states, impunities perpetrators violence. Following Truth Reconciliation Commission post-apartheid South Africa 1994, practices apology expressions ‘regret’ ‘remorse’ had particular currency addressing violent pasts, seeking ‘closure’ forward’. idea ‘national reconciliation’ emerged from set experiences, namely transitions liberal democracy occurred at end Cold 2003: 368). Embedded research memory helping build sustainable peace stability new nations – and, conversely, ignoring pasts undermines peacebuilding efforts. So, two ideas central here. first attempt address/confront would turn lead departure future. thereby seen counterpoint retributive Second, often involve process accountability international domestic prosecutions search truth tribunals Commissions (TRCs). Notable among apologizing become significant speech (Mookherjee 2019; al. 2009)44 See (2001) Nobles (2008) extensive apologies. strategic their timing, context, geopolitical concerns (Nobles 2008). Richard Wilson (2003: 383) “‘thick’ sense forgiveness”, aim go beyond rhetoric strengthen movements combat impunity, creating agency sociality 8-9; 18; volume). most these apologetic exercises, ‘commanded forgiving’ (Josephides, reconcile, peacefulness. suggested where injustices. ‘positive’ ‘normative’ way forward, however, fails capture feelings injustice felt when claiming serving powerful 2015, after Justin Trudeau came power, he cornerstone his government sought address towards First people Canada publication final report Canadian Indian Residential Schools (CIRS) Commission. However, TRC ensured only allowing victims articulate experiences (Niezen, That template be instrument support brought out complex trajectories Bangladesh. civil society long campaigned highlight effects arising unacknowledged (Pakistani authorities; collaborators). A cross-section citizens current state authorities activism. Since 2009, Bangladesh-based state-led crimes tribunal (ICT), juridical redress meted death penalties well-known (mostly leaders). Bangladesh's case keep irreconciled wounds open. demand killings rapes year, governments expressed ‘regret’, should bury past, show ‘magnanimity’ (McCarthy 2002), abandon deep ‘grudge’ Pakistanis, on. ICT faced criticism lack transparency, flouting exhibition vengeance use penalties. Bangladesh, considered large proportion electorate were largely popular (Economist 2013).55 An opinion poll AC Nielsen April 2013 showed though nearly two-thirds respondents said trials ‘unfair’ ‘very unfair’, 86 per cent wanted them proceed regardless. Annual polls ranked top three ‘positive steps taken’, consistently fail ten list ‘issues need greatest government’ 2013). Pakistan has, referred demonstrating ‘politics revenge’ called ‘reconciliation’ (Tribune 2015). There no doubt forgiveness normative aspirations public life well many theorists, frame ‘Christian’. Islamic mercy enforced right explored some scholars (Osanloo 2020). Pakistan, under Qisas Diyat (meaning retribution blood money), serious crimes/murder prescribes ‘reconciled’ form material ‘justice’ victims’ family determined perpetrators, while latter evade any punitive action. 2016, amendment tried close loophole consequent mixed success.66 Thanks to, Kamran Ali, Sadaf Aziz, Angbeen Atif Mirza, Ali Usman Qasmi advice Qisa laws (Wasti Kermani (2020) Khan (2020), how practice 2016 amendments bar inclusion unable stop cases slip such pardons. pleas sudden grave provocation frequently mitigating circumstance order reduce sentences honour killings, disadvantage victims. When anti-terror legislation, cases, cannot forgiven. proposed differs profoundly our part survivors. Undoubtedly, harmony daily lives driven reasons religion, discourses different religions. My insights resonate contributions volume, examine position non-forgiveness Of novel significance here selectively but, end, do so mostly perpetrators. Debates recognition Aboriginal sovereignty further illuminate calls serve shield perceived cause injustice. Paul Muldoon Andrew Schaap (2012: 536) liberals Australia distinguish themselves culture conservatives deem progressive movement. does recognize measure thwart campaign treaty 1970s 1980s. Similar Australian call Pakistan's over Donald Trump's ‘a moment Capitol Hill attacks 6 January 2021 (Woodward 2021). ‘temporary intellectuals Prime Minister Narendra Modi could despite catastrophic failure dystopic realities COVID-related deaths India April-May (Mehta other enables Allen Feldman ‘exclosure’: ‘the self-defacement appearing non-appearance violence’ (2015: 12). Exclosure makes inherent illegible secures re-establishes same reconciliation. issue, wish theoretical both phenomenon. goals technologies ‘reconciliation’, understanding based positive commitment ‘irreconciliation’ own right. Hence, vengeful Derrida's positions seeks phenomenon specifically selective, staged, compromised, failed Hannah Arendt (2002), writing 1950 1973 her Denktagebuch (Thought diary), poses questions judgement Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann. Ought one reconcile himself Eichmann wrongs? Or, barring active ought wrongdoings? finally, say irreconcilable, world exist must rejected injustices? Arendt's reject ‘wrongs’ structures wrongdoings enabled. might seem utopian, very acceptance limited humanity hence compromise imperfect world. She writes: ‘[O]ne neither silent pass by’ (Arendt 2002: 7, translated Berkowitz 2011: 3). defiance phrases ‘just that’ (Hossain's comment epigraph) ‘neither (Arendt) encapsulated Audra Simpson's ‘refusal’ (2017: 19) Kamari Clarke (2019) ‘reattribution’. stance producing thought, politics, traditions apart critical relationship states. Simpson examines indigenous communities North America resort (instead recognition) deliberate actions. And Clarke, reattribution act reassigning culpability using logics, histories, tools. Thus, undertaken collective/individual boundary-making bounded legitimate community. One few ethnographies focused betrayal, abandonment, revenge, retaliation Vincent Crapanzano's Harkis: wound heals (2011), expand later (see Crapanzano 2012). work Thomas Brudholm Valérie Rosoux (2009) Walter Reich (2006) provides illustrations Writing politics remorse Africa, Nancy Scheper-Hughes (1998: 131) notes forgive. February 1998, mother Sidizwe Kondile, victim police-orchestrated murder, TRC-imposed ‘duty’ told ‘I am ready forgive’. she heard childhood catechism class ‘it undo damage caused malicious acts’ counterintuitive romance healing … master narrative late 20th century individuals struggle overcome legacies suffering’ 126). Arendt, Simpson, Crapanzano, ‘romance healing’. We refuse unjust (including justice). forgiving, reconciling, remaining What reconciling manifest in, forgive? instances: first, addressed; second, symbolically addressed virtue-signalled without structural changes (like cut-price apology’ given stolen generation reparation) 2009); third, highlighting continuous protests performative following sections, leads semantics, self means informed context Papua New Guinea, Mozambique, Canada, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Northern Ireland wider Kingdom. around 2020-1 subsequent pushbacks anti-racist resistance (Mookherjee, irreconciliation, dissent affective continuing impunities. Visibilizing across geographical spaces temporalities Global away simplistic binaries ‘peaceful’ deemed forgiving ‘violent’ ones vengeful. outlined above, numerous instances, come stand maintenance indistinguishable anthropological truths along acknowledgements proposes conceptualization engages departs fields conflict resolution studies, continuum ‘peaceandconflict system’ (Mac Ginty 2019), legal theory, literature. foundations studies attributed Johan Galtung's ‘negative’ peace, defined absence direct, individual theorized framed initially integration co-operation. Galtung (1968: 190) acknowledges quoist perspective Herman Schmid 221) reframes ‘vertical development, participation, decentralization, codecision’ (Galtung 1968: 186). existing critiqued improve prescribed inherently politically conservative morally contestable entails problematic compromises (Lu 2017: 15). Irreconciliation, we define it, aims struggles ‘peace’ (Buthpitiya, camouflage name attributions applied concept linearity transitioning authoritarian/military democratic (e.g. Argentina Bangladesh) solution, look cost closing affected. thus meant enable ‘renewal applicable relations persons variance’ (Gallimore 2008: 251), or, instance, collective standing nations. acknowledgement injury; contrition, responsibility, forgiveness; granting joined bystanders. dialogical therapeutic giving hearing testimonies intrinsic audiences, International Criminal Tribunal Rwanda (Eltringham 2019). acknowledged addressed, like TRCs Crimes Tribunals deployed bring issues fore (Rosoux 2009). states institutions willing engage juridical, history rewriting processes, aesthetic representations, apologies, reparations attempted. Ironically, apologize compels confront runs counter official, national self-images tolerance pluralism (Hage cited 2009: 347). Initially, enabling amnesty forums tasked (2001), critiquing legitimacy (via bureaucratic processes) undermine Others, meanwhile, everyday Doughty 2016). Along Fiona Ross (2003), (2003; 2020) emphasis positivism excluding certain kinds survivor narratives. He identifies competing moral systems Drawing shows together transnational notions human rights redemption. banner held read: ‘Reconciliation Truth’ 18), transparency (i.e. telling TRC), eventually addressed. Instead, recognized suffering rendered grief equal. assumed encouraging forsaking revenge survivors, liberated. result, resentment (Mihai 2010; 2005) wronged remained unaddressed. back space shared became (2003) collectivization suffering, identity created. Nations, governments, local mediation, community courts power dynamics geopolitics play (Anders Zenker 2014; 2-4). organizations Court rightly primarily indicting male African rather European American leaders crimes, ‘shield west pursue rest’ (Clarke 2019: 105). result imbalance, carry trials. example. These have, reiterating hierarchies patriarchy patronage gacaca Clark 2010) achieve legitimizes Laura Nader's (1991) account aspiration ‘harmony ideology’.88 Nader villagers southern Mexico, ideology (introduced Spanish colonialism missionaries), mode counter-hegemonic government, disallowed weaker members hamper manifested States dispute (ADR). decades, therefore, Branch Eltringham Niezen 2017; Thiranagama 2013; 2003; They emphasized coerciveness even modality control, discipline instrumentalization pursuit (Branch 2014: 611-12). Political theorists argued readiness is, divided polity engaged agonism: back-and-forth contestation challenge each other's version (Schaap 2005). Recognizing wronged, Mihai invoke third-party mediated recuperate ‘negative emotions democracy’ 2010: 183), anger, acknowledge ‘triad conflict’ (of management, resolution, transformation), study peaceandconflict today cognizant complexities, accommodation, co-existence, ‘conflict calming’ 269), ‘adaptive approach’ (de Coning 2018) focusing cohesion resilience laudable pro-peace needs effective including prosecutions, violations, analysis conditions violation Wilson, becomes foundational purpose retribution, setting parameters resolved. This, however forecloses debate issues, arriving impossibility always remains deferred (Turner 2016: 40-1). prevalence raison d’être scientific intriguing. found uplifting story trauma hope renewal: described ‘Schindlerization Holocaust testimony’ (Reich 2006: 466). feel-good, upbeat endings readily provides, run negative process, ‘healing’ foreclose survivors’ 2002, Rwandan President Kagame sake country's Yet, show, highlights forced asked, participants quite scathing it. sociologist psychotherapist Esther Mujawayo's interest post-atrocity “obsession” behalf authorities, NGOs, agents (Brudholm 43) w