ABSTRACT
World-wide interest in restorative justice has generated a remarkable body of literature in a relatively short time. 2 Proponents cite existing programmes and practices with deep roots in long-standing Western and non-Western cultural traditions. For example, Braithwaite (1999) describes the grounding of restorative justice concepts in the justice practices of the ancient Arabs, Greeks, Romans, and the Germanic peoples after the fall of Rome. He also notes that various religions, including Buddhists, Indian Hindus, Taoists and Confucianists, recognize the importance of restoring community harmony and balance after a wrongdoing or disruptive event. Braithwaite’s insightful review of both the optimism and pessimism associated with restorative justice is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand this world-wide criminal-justice paradigm.
