"Tensions between reconciliation and justice"
Speaker: Professor William Maley, AM

In the study of international relations, there has long been a recognition that the pursuit of justice may sit uneasily with the realisation of other important values. This has been brought into sharp relief in a number of post-Cold War conflict situations, where the perceived need to achieve stability has on occasion seen political actors suspected of serious human rights violations playing significant roles. In this lecture, Professor Maley argues that this reflects a tension between different conceptions of ethics rather than a simple dichotomy between principled and pragmatic responses, and draws on a range of historical examples to illustrate his argument.

Professor Maley is the Foundation Director of the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at The Australian National University.