Reconciliation

The definition, process, and significance of reconciliation vary among different people and across different contexts (Bloomfield, Barnes, & Huyse, 2003). In general, reconciliation entails the establishment or re-establishment of non-violent amicable relations between one or two persons or groups (Abu-Nimer et al., 2001; Aiken, 2013). However, the process is never simple, nor is it an isolated act; rather, reconciliation is a non-linear and continuous process wherein all parties involved maintain a constant readiness to forego the tyranny of violence, shame, and fear, and opt for peace and democracy (Bloomfield et al., 2003). As each relationship is unique, the reconciliation process, its outcomes, and its methods vary across contexts.