Reparations in Global Perspective

This course will explore the context, content, and significance of reparations. States deploy reparations to acknowledge and sometimes make restitution for institutionalized violence. Typically, reparations are won by activist-led movements. Conflicts may arise over who can speak for harmed groups and what constitutes justice. For their part, state actors may approach reparations strategically, e.g., to reframe a historical narrative. After studying various precedents, we will turn to recent developments in the long struggle for restorative justice for African Americans and other African diasporic communities worldwide.