The Role of Community Justice in Post-Conflict Reconstruction: A Qualitative Inquiry
Keywords:
community justice, post-conflict reconstruction, restorative justice, social cohesion, transitional justice, qualitative research, Iran, legal pluralismAbstract
This study aims to explore the role of community justice mechanisms in promoting social repair, trust reconstruction, and reconciliation in the context of post-conflict reconstruction in Tehran, Iran. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 23 purposively selected participants, including community leaders, NGO workers, local residents, and informal justice facilitators based in Tehran. The data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. All interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed using NVivo software. The analytical process followed open, axial, and selective coding procedures grounded in principles of grounded theory, with a focus on identifying emergent patterns and categories relevant to community justice in a post-conflict urban environment. Four overarching themes emerged from the data: restorative justice mechanisms, community participation and ownership, institutional and legal interfaces, and psychosocial healing and social cohesion. Participants emphasized the importance of truth-telling, cultural rituals, and symbolic reparations in facilitating relational repair. Community justice practices were deeply embedded in local values and often functioned through collective ownership, with significant involvement from women and youth. The interface between formal institutions and community mechanisms revealed both collaboration and tensions, highlighting legal pluralism. Community-led justice was also associated with trauma processing, rebuilding trust, and reestablishing collective identity after conflict. Community justice plays a vital and multifaceted role in post-conflict reconstruction by offering culturally embedded, participatory, and restorative alternatives to formal legal processes. These mechanisms contribute not only to dispute resolution but also to long-term social healing, trust building, and moral reintegration. Supporting and integrating such grassroots initiatives can enhance the legitimacy, inclusivity, and sustainability of post-conflict recovery efforts, especially in contexts where formal transitional justice systems are absent or limited.
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