ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the way in which transitional justice has evolved from being just one among many different options for dealing with the past to being the dominant language in which the move from war to peace is discussed in the early twenty-first century. It outlines the way in which law has come to dominate transitional justice literature and discourse. The chapter highlights the increasing trend towards formulaic approaches to transition that include the production of toolkits and expert guides to transition. It also outlines the ways in which critical scholars have sought to highlight the blind spots created by the legal frameworks of transition and the limitations of foundational goals such as truth and reconciliation. The chapter provides a concise overview of the state of the field of transitional justice, its advocates and its discontents. It explores how deconstructive analysis can provide useful insights into the way in which the meaning of justice is constructed.
