The positive effects of rule of law norms and institutions are often assumed in the peacebuilding literature, with empirical work focusing more on processes of compliance with international standards in war-torn countries. Yet, this article contends that purportedly ‘good’ rule of law norms do not always deliver benign benefits but rather often have negative consequences that harm the very local constituents that peacebuilders promise to help. Specifically, the article argues that rule of law promotion in war-torn countries disproportionately favours actors who have been historically privileged by unequal socio-legal and economic structures at the expense of those whom peacebuilders claim to emancipate. By entrenching an inequitable state system which benefits those with wealth, education, and influence, rule of law institutions have reinforced structural, social, and cost-related barriers to justice. These negative effects explain why war-torn societies avoid the formal courts and law enforcement agencies despite substantial international efforts to professionalise and strengthen these institutions to meet global rule of law standards. The argument is drawn from an historical, comparative, and empirical analysis of the UK-funded justice sector development programme in Sierra Leone and US-supported rule of law reforms in Liberia – two postwar countries often cited as prototypes of successful peacebuilding.

中文翻译：

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在冲突后环境中劫持法治

建设和平文献中经常假设法治规范和制度的积极影响，实证工作更多地关注饱受战争蹂躏的国家遵守国际标准的过程。然而，本文认为，据称“良好”的法治规范并不总是带来良性利益，而是经常产生负面后果，损害和平建设者承诺帮助的当地选民。具体而言，该文章认为，在饱受战争蹂躏的国家中，促进法治的行为不成比例地偏向了那些在历史上因不平等的社会法律和经济结构而享有特权的行为者，而牺牲了和平建设者声称要解放的那些人。通过巩固不公平的国家制度，使有财富、受教育和有影响力的人受益，法治机构加强了司法的结构性、社会性和成本相关障碍。这些负面影响解释了为什么饱受战争蹂躏的社会会避开正式的法院和执法机构，尽管国际社会为专业化和加强这些机构以符合全球法治标准做出了巨大努力。该论点来自对英国资助的塞拉利昂司法部门发展计划和美国支持的利比里亚法治改革的历史、比较和实证分析——这两个战后国家经常被称为成功建设和平的原型。这些负面影响解释了为什么饱受战争蹂躏的社会会避开正式的法院和执法机构，尽管国际社会为专业化和加强这些机构以符合全球法治标准做出了巨大努力。该论点来自对英国资助的塞拉利昂司法部门发展计划和美国支持的利比里亚法治改革的历史、比较和实证分析——这两个战后国家经常被称为成功建设和平的原型。这些负面影响解释了为什么饱受战争蹂躏的社会会避开正式的法院和执法机构，尽管国际社会为专业化和加强这些机构以符合全球法治标准做出了巨大努力。该论点来自对英国资助的塞拉利昂司法部门发展计划和美国支持的利比里亚法治改革的历史、比较和实证分析——这两个战后国家经常被称为成功建设和平的原型。