Just and Unjust Peace: An Ethic of Political Reconciliation

A professor of political science and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, Philpott (God’s Century) puts forth a compelling argument for a religious ethic of reconciliation to solve such political conflicts as war, genocide, and other forms of national ethnic or racial crimes. As he points out, reconciliation has found its way into numerous global conflicts, most famously South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Philpott argues the same ethic can be applied in Jewish and Muslim contexts. Frustrated with the current legal system of trial, sentencing, and imprisonment, Philpott advocates for alternative practices such as acknowledgment, reparations, punishment, apology, and forgiveness. Aware some may see these practices as idealistic, utopian, or sectarian, Philpott argues they can create trust, legitimacy, and national loyalty where current practices fall short. A dense, often repetitive work, general readers will need patience to slog through this academic prose. But they will eventually be rewarded with greater understanding of a timely and powerful subject. (June)