Corruption, Social Trust and Restorative Justice in addressing Modern Democracies.
FOR TRACK :RC20
Chair : Prof. Maria Krambia Kapardis, Cyprus University of Technology, maria.kapardis@cut.ac.cy
Co-Chair: Heidi Joikinen, Åbo Akademi University in Finland, heidi.jokinen@laurea.fi
Discussants:
1. Gaddi Daniela, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain, daniela.gaddi@uab.cat
2. Davide Bianchi, Università di Torino, Italy,davide.bianchi@unito.it
Democracies continue to rely on centuries-old institutions, processes, procedures and practices. However, democracy and its traditional methods endure amid ongoing uncertainties, thus new ideas, philosophies and interdisciplinary political and social models are required to meet current challenges. Current democracies need to address the plague of corruption (political and state capture). Whilst traditional criminal justice frameworks often treat corruption as a transactional crime against the state, focusing primarily on punitive measures for the offender. However, systemic corruption inflicts deep, widespread wounds on the social fabric, eroding public trust, depleting communal resources, and marginalizing vulnerable populations.
This panel explores the transformative potential of restorative justice as an alternative or complementary paradigm. By shifting the focus from mere punishment to harm rectification, accountability, and community institutional repair, we examine how restorative processes can foster transparency and rebuild civic trust. We invite papers that analyze case studies, theoretical frameworks, or institutional challenges in applying restorative practices to political, corporate, or systemic corruption.