Hello malae, goodbye barang: Building peace, justice, and reconciliation in post-conflict Cambodia and East Timor

This dissertation presents a philosophical exploration of certain fundamental values that post-conflict societies seek: peace, justice, and reconciliation; and considers the practical application of these ideas in the cases of Cambodia and East Timor, from the political violence of the 1970s to the post-Cold War deployment of peacebuilding missions and the ongoing formulation of transitional justice mechanisms. The dissertation asks three questions: (1) Did the United Nations help to create a peaceful state based on the legitimacy of transparent, fair, and democratic procedures, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law? (2) Did transitional justice satisfy demands for accountability, justice, and/or reconciliation? (3) Which model of transitional justice can best achieve these goals?; The dissertation examines structural changes that allowed international actors (nation-states, intergovernmental organizations, transnational entities) to actively support conflict resolution after decades (or even centuries) of direct and indirect support for political violence. It analyzes three sets of factors (security; democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; and development) that impact the practice of peacebuilding and attempts to create peaceful and legitimate states. Next, the dissertation identifies an analytical framework to illustrate the political ramifications of transitional justice in post-conflict societies when put into practice, finding several broad dilemmas that inhibit the realization of justice and reconciliation: national interests, third party motivations, and culture. In order to improve the role of human rights and war crimes accountability in comprehensive peace operations, it suggests that practitioners use five distinct phases in the transitional justice model and the coordination and sequencing of institutions: (1) peace negotiations, (2) pre-deployment planning, (3) the establishment of security, (4) post-conflict institution-building, and (5) the departure and future preparations. In both cases, violence has significantly declined, and peace and stability were basically achieved; however, accountability and protecting human rights through international judicial mechanisms were obstructed by either domestic forces or formerly involved outside powers.