Looking Back, Reaching Forward

Zed Books. Ed(s): Villa-Vicencio, Charles; Verwoerd, Wilhelm

ISBN 10: 1856498204 / ISBN 13: 9781856498203

Published by Zed Books Ltd, 2000

About this Item

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been a defining experience in South Africa's transition to democratic and non-racial rule. This anthology, an assessment of the Commission process, is intended to illuminate the realities of South Africa. Editor(s): Villa-Vicencio, Charles; Verwoerd, Wilhelm. Num Pages: 344 pages, notes, index. BIC Classification: 1HFMS; 3JJPR; GTB; HBJH; JPH; JPVH; LND. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly; (UU) Undergraduate. Dimension: 220 x 151 x 22. Weight in Grams: 470. . 2000. Paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9781856498203

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Looking Back, Reaching Forward
• Publisher: Zed Books Ltd
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1856498204
• ISBN 13: 9781856498203
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Born with an historic compromise that few predicted, the TRC has evoked emotions ranging from anger and confusion to sympathy and remorse. It has rarely generated indifference.

This collection of essays constitutes a tour de force, capturing the essence of the TRC debate, while posing a set of questions with which this country is likely to wrestle for some time to come. Indeed, it is intended to provoke debate rather than provide simply answers to complex questions. This makes it a useful book for teaching purposes as well as for others interested in transitional politics.

A number of different voices are heard, all seeking to provoke practical ways forward for a nation that in the early 1990's was teetering on the brink of collapse. The pertinent question posed by the book is: "Where does South Africa go in the post TRC period?" Equally important is the question: "Does the TRC model provide a viable alternative to prosecution for other countries in transition from oppressive rule to a society committed to human rights and the rule of law?"

About the Author

Charles Villa-Vicencio is the former Director of Research of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. His Coeditor, Wilhelm Verwoerd, teaches in the Department of Philosophy, University of Stellenbosch, and was a former researcher with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.