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Education

BA Waterloo, MA Acadia, PhD McMaster

Teaching Fields

International human rights, transitional justice, genocide, international relations

Research Interests

Transitional justice, truth commissions, customary mechanisms of justice

Publications

Books

The Politics of Acknowledgement. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2010.

Edited Books

Reconciliation(s). Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2009.

Articles, peer reviewed

“The Thing Behind the Thing”: The role and influence of religious leaders on the use of traditional practices of acknowledgement in Uganda,” Review of Faith and International Affairs, 8.1 (Spring 2010): 3-12.

“Problematizing the Formal/Informal Distinction in Customary Justice: Mechanisms of Acknowledgement in Uganda,” The Uganda Living Law Journal, 7.2 (Fall 2009)

“Haiti’s Failed Truth Commission: Lessons in Transitional Justice,” Journal of Human Rights, 8.3 (Fall 2009): 265-281.

"Chicken & Egg? Sequencing in Transitional Justice: The Case of Uganda," International Journal of Peace Studies, (2008).  14.2 (Autumn/Winter 2009): 35-53.

“Getting to Peace? Negotiating with the LRA in Northern Uganda,” Human Rights Review, 2008.

“Aide aux enfants dans le nord de l’Ouganda: La réinsertion des enfants soldats,” Revue Anthropologie et Sociétés, 31.2 (2007): 173-190.

“Social Reconstruction in Uganda: The Role of Informal Mechanisms in Transitional Justice,” Human Rights Review, 8.4 (2006): 389-407.

“Reconciliation in Uganda: Past, Present, Future,” Peace Newsletter, Peace and Conflict Studies Programme, Makerere University (Dec. 2006): 5.

"Beyond Truth Commissions: Indigenous Reconciliation in Uganda,” The Review of Faith and International Affairs, 4.1 (Spring 2006): 31-37.

“Transitional Justice,” Globalization and Autonomy On-Line Compendium. Eds. William Coleman, Nancy Johnson, Geoffrey Rockwell and Andrew Mactavish. Globalization and Autonomy Research Project, Sep. 2005.

“Truth Commissions,” Globalization and Autonomy On-Line Compendium. Eds. William Coleman, Nancy Johnson, Geoffrey Rockwell and Andrew Mactavish. Globalization and Autonomy Research Project, Sep. 2005.

“Constraints: The Un-Doing of the Ugandan Truth Commission,” Human Rights Quarterly, 26.2 (May 2004) 401-427.

Joanna R. Quinn and Mark Freeman, “Lessons Learned: Practical Lessons Gleaned from Inside the Truth Commissions of Guatemala and South Africa,” Human Rights Quarterly, 25.4 (Nov. 2003) 1117-1149.

“Dealing with a Legacy of Mass Atrocity: Truth Commissions in Uganda and Chile,” Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, 23.4 (Dec. 2001) 383-402.

Working Papers

Lucy Hovil and Joanna R. Quinn, “Peace First. Justice Later: Traditional Justice in Northern Uganda,” Refugee Law Project Working Paper Series, Working Paper No. 17, 8 July 2005.

“The Politics of Acknowledgement: An Analysis of Uganda’s Truth Commission,” York Centre for International and Security Studies, Working Paper No. 19, March 2003.

“Acknowledgement: The Road to Forgiveness,” Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition Working Paper Series, McMaster University, January 2003.

Book Chapters

“Haiti: Country Study,” in Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Nadya Nedelsky and Laivinia Stan, vol. 1 (New York: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming).

“Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances of People in Uganda: Transitional Justice Institutions and Organizations,” in Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Nadya Nedelsky and Laivinia Stan, vol. 1 (New York: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming).

“Commission of Inquiry into Violations of Human Rights: Transitional Justice Institutions and Organizations,” in Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Nadya Nedelsky and Laivinia Stan, vol. 1 (New York: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming).

“Commision nationale de vérité et de justice: Transitional Justice Institutions and Organizations,” in Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Nadya Nedelsky and Laivinia Stan, vol. 1 (New York: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming).

“Comparing Formal and Informal Mechanisms in Uganda,” in New Directions in International Law Adjudication. Ed. Henry (Chip) Carey. New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 2010.

“Gender and Customary Mechanisms in Uganda,” in Confronting Gender Justice: Women's Lives, Human Rights. Ed. Debra Bergoffen, Connie McNeely, Paula Ruth Gilbert, Tamara Harvey. New York: Routledge, 2010.

“Transitional Justice,” in Human Rights: Politics and Practice. Ed. Michael Goodhart. London: Oxford University Press, 2008.

 “Introduction,” Reconciliation(s). Ed. Joanna R. Quinn. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2008.

“What of Reconciliation? Traditional mechanisms of acknowledgement in Uganda,” Reconciliation(s). Ed. Joanna R. Quinn. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2008.

“Human Rights and Governance,” in International Development Governance. Eds. Ahmed Shafiqul Huque and Habib Zafarullah. London: Dekker/CRC Press, 2005: 151-161.

“Are Truth Commissions Useful in Promoting Restorative Justice?” in Crosscurrents: International Relations. 4th ed. Ed. Mark Charlton. Toronto: Nelson Canada, 2005, 402-408.

Articles, not peer reviewed

“Can Nations Rebuild After Citizens Brutalized?” Western News, 8 November, 2007.

Unpublished Theses

“The Politics of Acknowledgement: Truth Commissions in Uganda and Haiti,” Ph.D. diss., McMaster University, 2003.

“Democracy, Human Rights and Religiosity in the Middle East,” M.A. diss., Acadia University, 1997.

Reviews

“States of Violence,” International Journal LXII.4 (Autumn 2007): 1006-1007.

"Review of Retribution and Reparation in the Transition to Democracy,” Canadian Journal of Political Science, 40:1 (2007): 10-11.

"Social Reconstruction: A Review of My Neighbour, My Enemy: Justice and Community in the Aftermath of Mass Atrocity," edited by Eric Stover and Harvey M. Weinstein,” Ottawa Law Review, 37:2 (Spring 2006): 365-368.

"Between Vengeance and Forgiveness: A Review,” Journal of Genocide Research, 3.1 (Mar. 2001) 136-139.

Presentations

"Mad Science? Possibilities for and Examples of Synthetic (Neo) traditional Practices of Justice and Acknowledgement," Panel--Creative Approaches to Transitional Justice, International Studies Association, San Diego, CA: April 2, 2012, forthcoming.

“Whither the ‘Transition’ of Transitional Justice?” Panel—Why Didn’t They Think of That? Emerging Questions and Outliers in Transitional Justice Theory, Canadian Political Science Association, Waterloo, ON: May 16, 2011.

“The Prospects for Customary Law in Transitional Justice: The Case of Fiji ,” Panel—The Transitional Justice To Do List: [Re]Thinking Critical Issues, International Studies Association, Montreal, QB: March 16, 2011.

David Hoogenboom and Joanna Quinn, “Transitional Justice and the Diaspora: Examining the impact of the Haitian Diaspora on the Haitian Truth Commission,” Panel—Transitional Justice: Actors Shaping Ideas and Practices, International Studies Association, Montreal, QB: March 16, 2011.

 “Transitional Justice in Uganda,” (invited presenter) Department of Political Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, February 17, 2011.

 “Transitional Justice,” (invited presenter) Canadian International Law Students' Conference, University of Toronto, Toronto, February 5, 2011.

“The International Criminal Court,” (invited presenter) The ICC, Peacebuilding, and Security, Dalhousie University, Halifax, December 3, 2010.

“Customary Law and Transitional Justice in Uganda,” (invited presenter) Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, September 27, 2010.

“Power and Privilege in Traditional Practices of Acknowledgement and Justice in Uganda,” (invited presenter) International Peace Research Association Conference, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia: July 6, 2010.

“Power to the People? Abuses of power in traditional practices of acknowledgement in Uganda,” Panel—Disputing Ideas in Transitional Justice, Canadian Political Science Association, Montreal, QB: June 1, 2010.

“What Can the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission be Expected to Do?” Truth, Reconciliation and the Residential Schools, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON: March 06, 2010.

“Child Soldiers in Uganda,” (invited presenter) Centre for International Governance Innovation, Waterloo, ON: March 04, 2010.

“Here, Not There: Theorizing about why traditional mechanisms work in some communities, not others,” (invited presenter) Political Inquiry Colloquium, Department of Political Science, The University of Western Ontario, February 27, 2010.

“The Role of Traditional Practices of Acknowledgement and the Supposed Accountability/Peacebuilding Dilemma: The Case of Uganda,” Panel—Peacebuilding and transitional justice: Complementary, contradictory, or what? (invited presenter),International Studies Association, New Orleans, LA: February 18, 2010.

“Spoiled Rotten? Outsiders and the use of traditional mechanisms in Uganda,” Panel—Transitional Justice Praxis (invited presenter), International Studies Association, New Orleans, LA: February 17, 2010.

“What of Reconciliation? Symbols, Rites & Ceremonies In Uganda,” Beyond Reconciliation: Dealing with the Aftermath of Mass Trauma and Political Violence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, December 3, 2009.

“The Thing Behind the Thing”: The role and influence of religious leaders in the use of traditional practices of justice in Uganda,” Panel—The Complexities of Transitional Justice, Canadian Political Science Association, Ottawa, ON: May 29, 2009.

“Transitional Justice in Uganda,” (invited presenter) Compassion in Action, University Student’s Council, The University of Western Ontario, March 27, 2009.

“Post-Genocide: Transitional Justice,” (invited presenter) Canadian Centre for Genocide Education, Toronto, ON: March 22, 2009.

“The Politics of Acknowledgement: Traditional Practices in Uganda,” (invited presenter) Political Inquiry Colloquium, Department of Political Science, The University of Western Ontario, February 27, 2009.

“Here, Not There? Theorizing about why traditional mechanisms work in some communities, not others,” Panel—Lost in Transition? Justice and Traditional Practises in Post-Conflict Societies (invited presenter), International Studies Association, New York, NY: February 15, 2009.

“Tradition!?: Traditional Cultural Institutions on Customary Practices of Acknowledgement,” Panel—Transitional Justice: International Criminal Law and the International Criminal Court, International Studies Association, New York, NY: February 17, 2009.

“Transitional Justice in Uganda,” (invited presenter) Political Science Association, King’s University College, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON: February 5, 2009.

“Transitional (and other) Justice in Uganda,” (invited presenter) International Law Assocation, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON: November 18, 2008.

“Here, Not There? Theorizing about why traditional mechanisms work in some communities, not others,” Panel—Transitional Justice II: Local Mechanisms and Initiatives, 2008 CPSA Annual Conference, Canadian Political Science Association, Vancouver, BC: June 5-7, 2008.

“Accountability and Reconciliation": Traditional Mechanisms of Acknowledgement and Implications of the Juba Peace Process," Reconstructing Northern Uganda (invited presenter), Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Research Group, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON: April 5, 2008.

“Gender and Customary Mechanisms in Uganda,” Global Gender Justice Symposium, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA: April 17, 2008.

“Haiti’s Failed Truth Commission: Lessons in Transitional Justice,” Panel—Transitional Justice: Locating Justice: Local/National/International/Hybrid? (invited presenter) International Studies Association, San Francisco, CA: March 26, 2008.

“Traditional (and other) Justice in Uganda,” International Human Rights Program, (invited presenter), University of Toronto. Toronto, ON: February 28, 2008.

“Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding,” Coordinating Chaos, (invited presenter), Trudeau Centre for Human Rights, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON: February 10, 2008.

Poster Presentation, “Transitional Justice in Uganda: The Politics of Acknowledgement,” (invited presenter) Graduate Studies Showcase, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON: November 3, 2007.

“Getting to Peace? Negotiating with the LRA in Northern Uganda,” Cross-Purposes? International Law and Political Settlements (invited presenter), Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Research Group, The University of Western Ontario. London, ON: June 9, 2007. 

“Haiti’s Failed Truth Commission: Lessons in Transitional Justice,” Panel—Transitional Justice I: Truth and Reconciliation, 2007 CPSA Annual Conference, Canadian Political Science Association, Saskatoon, SK: May 30, 2007.

“A Gendered Perspective on Customary Mechanisms in Uganda in Pursuit of Transitional Justice” Panel—Transitional Justice II: The One-Size-Fits-All Approach and Traditional Alternatives, 2007 CPSA Annual Conference, Canadian Political Science Association, Saskatoon, SK: May 30, 2007.  

“If at First you Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again: Transitional Justice in Uganda,” Building Peace and Justice: Lessons from Uganda (invited presenter) Academic Council on the United Nations System, Waterloo, ON: March 23, 2007.

“What Comes Next? Sequencing in Transitional Justice: The Case of Uganda,” Panel – Transitional Justice: Truth-Seeking in Post-Conflict (invited presenter) International Studies Association, Chicago, IL: February 28, 2007.

Poster Presentation, “The Politics of Acknowledgement,” (invited presenter) Social Science Faculty Research Showcase, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON: January 16, 2007.

"Customary Mechanisms and the International Criminal Court,” Panel – International Regulations and Local Processes in Post-Conflict Society, 2006 CPSA Annual Conference, Canadian Political Science Association. Toronto, ON: June 3, 2006.

“Sophisticated Discourse: Why and how the Acholi of Northern Uganda are talking about international criminal law,” Panel – Social Effects of Political Transitions, 2006 CPSA Annual Conference, Canadian Political Science Association. Toronto, ON: June 3, 2006.

“Past Tuth Commission Initiatives in Uganda: 1974-1994,” Pre-Research Dissemination Workshop on the National Reconciliation Process in Uganda (invited presenter), TRC Working Group, Munyonyo, Uganda: April 27, 2006.

"Comparing Formal and Informal Mechanisms of Acknowledgement in Uganda: Truth commissions and traditional practices,” Panel - Africa as a Subject of International Justice (invited presenter), International Studies Association, San Diego, CA: March 22, 2006.

“Layers of Justice: Deconstructing Uganda’s Transition from War to Peace?” International Law Week, (invited presenter), The University of Western Ontario. London, ON: March 7, 2006.

“Tried and True: The Role of Informal Mechanisms of Acknowledgement in Post-Conflict Reconstruction,” Political Psychology: Facing the Real World, (invited presenter), International Society of Political Psychology. Toronto, ON: 6 July, 2005.

“The Role of Informal Mechanisms in Transitional Justice,” Multi-Paper Panel - Transitional Justice: International and Local Dimensions, 2005 CPSA Annual Conference, Canadian Political Science Association. London, ON: June 2, 2005.

“What of Reconciliation? Traditional Mechanisms of Acknowledgement in Uganda,” Reconciliation (invited presenter), Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Research Group, The University of Western Ontario. London, ON: 15 May, 2005.

“Reckoning with the Past: Traditional Mechanisms of Acknowledgement in Uganda,” Africa Day (invited presenter), Department of Political Science, Research Western, and The African Region Research Network, The University of Western Ontario. London, ON: 18 April, 2005.

“Ethnic Conflict in Uganda,” Why Neighbours Kill: Explaining the Breakdown of Ethnic Relations (invited presenter), Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Research Group, The University of Western Ontario. London, ON: 5 June, 2004.

“The Politics of Acknowledgement,” Research in Progress Seminar (invited presenter), McMaster University. Hamilton, ON: 07 November, 2002.

“Dealing With the Past: Uganda’s Truth Commission,” Canadian Association of African Studies. Toronto, ON: 31 May, 2002.

“Theories of Acknowledgement: The Case of Uganda,” AFPREA Conference 2001 on Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region. Africa Peace Research and Education Association. Kampala, Uganda: 25 July, 2001.

“The Politics of Acknowledgement,” Political Economy Research Group Symposium (invited presenter). University of Western Ontario. London, ON: 20 November, 2000.

“Classifying Truth Commissions,” Concerned Philosophers for Peace. McMaster University. Hamilton, ON: 29 October, 2000.

“The Politics of Acknowledgement: Truth Commissions in Uganda and Haiti,” Women In International Security (WIIS). Annapolis, MD: 17 June, 2000.

“Truth Commissions: A Comparative Assessment,” Public Policy in a Global Economy, University of Bath. Bath, U.K.: 17 April, 2000.

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• e-mail: jquinn2@uwo.ca