Quasi-experimental research designs as a tool for assessing the impact of transitional justice instruments

How can we assess the impact of transitional justice mechanisms? Despite the global proliferation of transitional justice processes and the expansion of the research field, a persistent lack of certainty regarding the impact of these instruments remains. In particular, a profound understanding of how methodologically to account for the political, societal, communal and individual effects of transitional justice processes remains arguably limited. In this article, we propose a quasi-experimental research design in a structured focused comparison as an effective method to assess the impact of transitional justice mechanisms and to identify causal relationships. Drawing on empirically-grounded experience from the implementation of our research design in two illustrative case studies – outreach activities by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the reparation programme of the Peruvian truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) – we demonstrate the potential and utility of the proposed methodology to measure the effects of transitional justice processes. By offering concrete methodological approaches and lessons learned, we thereby contribute to the emerging debate on how to assess the impact of instruments designed to deal with past wrongdoings.