The thesis scrutinizes the (unintended) consequences of international transitional justice frameworks, illustrating how Western pressures to commemorate crimes inadvertently stigmatize entire nations as perpetrators. It delves into the complex interplay of guilt, denial, and societal division that arises as a result of attempts to emancipate from this stigmatized identity. The central area of investigation is the issue of commemorating victims from the “perpetrator’s” side. The thesis argues that the absence of a moral framework to situate these victims within the broader moral transitional justice’s economy of victimhood leads to politics of silencing and denial. This, in turn, prolongs hostilities and renders the wartime past an indelible part of the present. The thesis shows how while transitional justice endeavors to foster liberal democratic societies driven by the “coming to term with the past” imperative, it contributes to the emergence of counter-liberal memory regimes.
The research interrogates Serbia’s political landscape, characterized by its failure to meaningfully confront its wartime history, leaving its citizens to navigate its complex legacies individually. One of the key concepts explored is the politics of victimization, which perpetuates animosities and enables political elites to present themselves as guardians of a victimized nation, thereby further obstructing reconciliation efforts. The thesis emphasizes the necessity for a nuanced understanding of conflict and its long-term repercussions. It contends that the divisive narratives entrenched in a simplified victim-perpetrator dichotomy inhibit national and regional progress. Ultimately, the thesis challenges reductive understandings of war and post-conflict society, advocating for a multi-dimensional approach to transitional justice and societal healing.
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