Forgiveness as a legal condition: A study of the uses of forgiveness in the Basque conflict
March 30th, 2026
We draw attention to the English-language article “Forgiveness as a legal condition: A study of the uses of forgiveness in the Basque conflict”, written by Idoia Quintana Domínguez and published in 2026 in Punishment & Society.
The study examines the role attributed to forgiveness within judicial and penal processes related to the Basque conflict, questioning the normative and political implications of its transformation into a legal requirement. The article highlights the tensions between the ethical dimension and the legal function of forgiveness, underscoring the risks associated with its institutionalization within transitional justice and post-conflict governance processes. The contribution offers significant insights for criminological debates on the relationship between punishment, reconciliation, and collective memory.
The article can be accessed at the following link.