Three Paradigms of Law in Peacebuilding

More than forty years ago, Robert Johansen (1980) articulated a humanist approach to international relations. He called on scholars and practitioners to pay attention to ethics, arguing that peace, economic well-being, and social and environmental justice must take center stage in global politics. In the spirit of Johansen’s humanist approach, this essay illuminates the role of law in building people’s commitment to peace and values. My reflections draw from research I have conducted in places and times where state leaders marshal law’s power against those who struggle for justice.