Transitional Justice and Property Restitution: Evaluating Housing Reclamation Models in Divided Societies

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 6, No. 6, June 2015 | pp. 478–486

DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000075

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Transitional Justice and Property Restitution: Evaluating Housing Reclamation Models in Divided Societies

Names of Authors: Mirela Hasanovic¹, Goran Pasic²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; ²Department of Sociology, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract: Abstract: Property restitution is widely recognized as a cornerstone of transitional justice, vital for reversing ethnic cleansing and fostering sustainable refugee returns. This study empirically examines the long-term socio-political outcomes of housing reclamation frameworks in deeply divided societies. Utilizing property tracking databases alongside a field survey of 520 returnee households, we assessed housing recovery rates and inter-ethnic trust scores. The quantitative models demonstrate that while formal legal property restitution achieved an unprecedented 93% success rate, actual long-term residential sustainability remains low. Statistical correlations indicate that local economic disparities and regional employment discrimination have a strong negative relationship with sustainable return rates (r = -0.61, p < 0.001). The empirical evidence reveals that many returnees reclaimed their legal property titles only to sell or lease them, driven by deep-seated institutional insecurity and a lack of local economic opportunities. This research concludes that legal property restitution fails to foster genuine reconciliation unless accompanied by targeted regional economic development and robust anti-discrimination protections.

Keywords: Property Restitution, Transitional Justice, Refugee Return, Divided Societies, Housing Reclamation, Institutional Insecurity, Community Reconciliation

Manuscript Timeline: Received: January 10, 2015; Revised: March 15, 2015; Accepted: April 22, 2015; Published: June 04, 2015

Citation: Hasanovic, M., & Pasic, G. (2015). Transitional Justice and Property Restitution: Evaluating Housing Reclamation Models in Divided Societies. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 6(6), 478–486. DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000075

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