Transitional Accountability Only for Some? : Accountability Measures Against Paramilitary Groups

Abstract: Accountability processes in the aftermath of a conflict are complicated policies that seek to serve justice by prosecuting wrongdoers, repairing victims by acknowledging their suffering, and restore social tissue damaged by the war. Despite growing trends in research investigating transitional justice policies and their effects upon societal reconciliation, and the role of stakeholders on their design, little is known about accountability measures for paramilitary groups. This thesis contributes to this research gap by answering the question under which conditions are paramilitaries held accountable after a conflict? I conduct a structured-focused comparison of three Latin American cases to identify if there is a relationship between close ties between paramilitary groups and the state apparatus, and a less comprehensive application of accountability measures. The findings give partial support for this hypothesis. However, I also find that the depth of accountability measures is influenced by international pressure, specifically when reputation damage could lead to domestic political instability.