The transitional justice impasse in post-revolution Libya: a call for a transformative approach

The effectiveness of transitional justice (TJ) is measured by the achievement of its goals of justice, reconciliation, healing, and peace in countries transitioning to non-authoritarian rule. This article evaluates the TJ experience in Libya the aftermath of the Qadhafi regime, revealing contextual challenges to TJ in Libya from 2011. The findings indicate a close relationship between contextual factors (political context, type of conflict, institutional context) and the trajectory of TJ. Libya’s fragile statehood, the nature and the scale of ongoing conflicts, and interference of various regional and external actors have undermined Libya’s political transition and complicated prospects for peace and reconciliation. Within the context of political and territorial division and continued human rights violations, the study concludes that Libya’s TJ model has been inappropriate and has failed to achieve its ambitious goals. Finally, the article advocates a transformative approach to transitional justice appropriate to this non-paradigmatic case of transition.