The Concept of Reconciliation

The theory and practice of reconciliation spans many disciplines, including philosophy, social theory, theology, law, history and psychology, and draws on all major traditions of thought. While discussions often emphasize overcoming conflict, especially through legal, political or diplomatic means, reconciliation encompasses a broader field than conflict resolution alone, extending to the establishment of peace, justice, fairness, healing and forgiveness, the overcoming of personal enmities, the recovery of cultural identities, the fostering of productive relationships within and between communities, and the role of cultural, religious and other factors. Reconciliation interventions may occur at the levels of both civil society and the legal and political institutions. The two are complementary and interdependent, because institutional change only becomes possible when preconditions are satisfied at the community level, while conversely, to ensure enduring outcomes community change must ultimately rely on a firm political framework.

Communication and dialogue across the differences of culture, politics, religion and race can contribute to the building of a social infrastructure for peace and enrich everyday practices in health, education, business, the arts, sport and many other areas of activity. It can support a multiplicity of progressive outcomes, such as enhancement of human rights, social justice, coexistence and conflict resolution. It can also help foster a social learning process, drawing on the wisdom and experience acquired from past struggles.

The contemporary project of reconciliation is to recognize and honour the complexity of human communication and to establish and preserve the possibility of continuing dialogue. Such communication is often difficult, unpredictable, ambiguous and fragile. Understood in this way, reconciliation is a process, not a state to be achieved or a goal to be reached. It can contribute to consolidating peace, breaking a cycle of violence, restoring justice at personal and social levels, bringing about personal healing, reparation for past injustices and building non-violent relationships between individuals and communities, but in a given case which objectives are relevant and which practices are likely to be effective depend on local conditions. There are as many pathways to reconciliation and models which can be drawn upon for guidance as there are experiences of conflict and the fracturing of communication.