The Mauritian Truth and Justice Commission: legitimacy, political negotiation and the consequences of slavery

Croucher, Richard ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9617-734X, Houssart, Mark ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8536-8220 and Michel, Didier (2017) The Mauritian Truth and Justice Commission: legitimacy, political negotiation and the consequences of slavery. African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 25 (3) . pp. 326-346. ISSN 0954-8890 [Article] (doi:10.3366/ajicl.2017.0198)

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Abstract

We examine the origins, processes and outcomes of the Mauritian Truth and Justice Commission’s (MTJC), examination of slavery, indentured labour and their contemporary effects. It has not been considered a success by any commentator. We therefore ask how far James L. Gibson’s application of legitimacy theory to ‘Truth Commissions’ has purchase in this context and whether it was cynically motivated. We use MTJC documentation, extensive interviews and newspaper reports to show that Gibson’s theory provides insight into MTJC outcomes while demonstrating that politico-economic power structures were crucial. Conversely, the MTJC does not sit easily in Van Zyl’s ‘cynical operation’ category.

Item Type: Article
Keywords (uncontrolled): Slavery; Civic Engagement; Historical Memory; Human Rights; Mauritius; Africa.
Research Areas: A. > Business School
Item ID: 19086
Notes on copyright: This is an Author’s Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Edinburgh University Press in African Journal of International and Comparative Law. The Version of Record is available online at: http://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/ajicl.2017.0198
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Depositing User: Bernadett Dunn
Date Deposited: 05 Apr 2016 11:00
Last Modified: 29 Nov 2022 20:43
URI: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/19086

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