ABSTRACT
This chapter establishes the main argument of the book, which is that legal reforms in conflict-affected contexts may not lead to reformers’ expected rule of law outcomes, but they do fundamentally shape the legal terrain. Legal reforms interact with pre-existing beliefs and practices to create emergent hybrid legality. This is done through shifts in legal consciousness that are produced through legal encounters. The rule of law cycle is also highlighted in this chapter to suggest the limitations of international actors’ approach to rule of law building. Additionally, this chapter establishes the logic of using the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a case study. The eastern DRC has experienced well-documented and researched legal interventions to build the rule of law and address sexual and gender-based violence, but the legal-justice practices that people engage with address everyday harms and disputes are nuanced and complex. Finally, the chapter also emphasizes the need for a critical and interpretive methodology that reflects on the history and power dynamics of intervention in the field site context.
