The justice/participation paradox : Rebel-to-party provisions and the dual performativity of confession and political authority
Jakobsen, Line Jespersgaard and Bramsen, Isabel LU
(2025)
In Review of International Studies
- Abstract
This study introduces the novel concept of the justice/participation paradox to post-conflict peace and justice literature. The 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) formalised a solution to the peace-versus-justice dilemma: allocating congressional seats to FARC while ensuring legal accountability through the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). In the JEP, perpetrators receive alternative sanctions instead of prison, provided they fully disclose the truth about their crimes, without inhibiting political participation. This has given rise to a new paradox: the ‘justice/participation paradox’ of promoting a political project in one arena while confessing crimes in... (More)
This study introduces the novel concept of the justice/participation paradox to post-conflict peace and justice literature. The 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) formalised a solution to the peace-versus-justice dilemma: allocating congressional seats to FARC while ensuring legal accountability through the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). In the JEP, perpetrators receive alternative sanctions instead of prison, provided they fully disclose the truth about their crimes, without inhibiting political participation. This has given rise to a new paradox: the ‘justice/participation paradox’ of promoting a political project in one arena while confessing crimes in another. The article analyses the performativity of confession vis-à-vis political participation, based on 38 interviews, participant observation, and 35 hours of video recording. It finds that former FARC members use the JEP to confess and show remorse while asserting political authority. Their dual role complicates continued political engagement, especially as guaranteed congressional seats expire and JEP sanctions must be fulfilled. Based on these findings, the article underscores the importance of recognising time and grassroots political participation in future peace processes.
(Less)
- author
- Jakobsen, Line Jespersgaard
and Bramsen, Isabel
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- FARC, peace, political participation, restorative participation, transitional justice
- in
- Review of International Studies
- publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105024012595
- ISSN
- 0260-2105
- DOI
- 10.1017/S026021052510154X
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), 2025.
- id
- bdc69f0e-dade-42cd-9179-88fde7001108
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-03 14:28:32
- date last changed
- 2026-03-03 14:29:48
@article{bdc69f0e-dade-42cd-9179-88fde7001108,
abstract = {{<p>This study introduces the novel concept of the justice/participation paradox to post-conflict peace and justice literature. The 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) formalised a solution to the peace-versus-justice dilemma: allocating congressional seats to FARC while ensuring legal accountability through the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). In the JEP, perpetrators receive alternative sanctions instead of prison, provided they fully disclose the truth about their crimes, without inhibiting political participation. This has given rise to a new paradox: the ‘justice/participation paradox’ of promoting a political project in one arena while confessing crimes in another. The article analyses the performativity of confession vis-à-vis political participation, based on 38 interviews, participant observation, and 35 hours of video recording. It finds that former FARC members use the JEP to confess and show remorse while asserting political authority. Their dual role complicates continued political engagement, especially as guaranteed congressional seats expire and JEP sanctions must be fulfilled. Based on these findings, the article underscores the importance of recognising time and grassroots political participation in future peace processes.</p>}},
author = {{Jakobsen, Line Jespersgaard and Bramsen, Isabel}},
issn = {{0260-2105}},
keywords = {{FARC; peace; political participation; restorative participation; transitional justice}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Cambridge University Press}},
series = {{Review of International Studies}},
title = {{The justice/participation paradox : Rebel-to-party provisions and the dual performativity of confession and political authority}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S026021052510154X}},
doi = {{10.1017/S026021052510154X}},
year = {{2025}},
}