Looking Back, Reaching Forward : Reflections on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa

Born with an historic compromise that few predicted, the TRC has evoked emotions ranging from anger and confusion to sympathy and remorse. It has rarely generated indifference.

This collection of essays constitutes a tour de force, capturing the essence of the TRC debate, while posing a set of questions with which this country is likely to wrestle for some time to come. Indeed, it is intended to provoke debate rather than provide simply answers to complex questions. This makes it a useful book for teaching purposes as well as for others interested in transitional politics.

A number of different voices are heard, all seeking to provoke practical ways forward for a nation that in the early 1990's was teetering on the brink of collapse. The pertinent question posed by the book is: "Where does South Africa go in the post TRC period?" Equally important is the question: "Does the TRC model provide a viable alternative to prosecution for other countries in transition from oppressive rule to a society committed to human rights and the rule of law?"

“An indispensable painful plunge into the process of healing in South Africa that does not spare us emotionally or intellectually. By telling the truth about how the truth itself was told and also hidden, this provocative book deepens our understanding of both violence and redemption.” —Ariel Dorfman

“The TRC has made a significant contribution to political transition. It has, inevitably, also left us with unfinished business, which now becomes the task of us all. This book makes an important contribution to this process.” —Barney Pityana, Chairperson, South African Human Rights Commission