ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the extant theoretical literature on the effects of truth telling on different groups. Within the burgeoning discourse on transitional justice, reconciliation has emerged as a key objective, becoming a motivating concept for theory, policy and practice. Indeed, an overview of the literature on truth telling reveals that when developing theory and policy, "the field is still driven by principles rather than data", and remains contingent on a number of assumptions. To date, there is a paucity of robust empirical analysis seeking to address the way in which truth-telling processes function as a form of public education, and how this impacts upon those individuals who were not directly involved in past violence. The gacaca tribunals in Rwanda also embraced this emphasis on community participation, to the extent that attendance at the hearings was made compulsory.
