Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

The resilience of the human spirit is not to be underestimated. In this paper, I address two international trends – global displacement and shrinking civic space – in exploring cognitive justice through a transnational lens. I argue that transnational cognitive justice humanizes transitional justice as a complementary process to protect human dignity. First, I discuss forced displacement as an impetus for diaspora mobilization; growing shrinking civic space as necessitating diaspora engagement in transnational spaces; and human rights education as a tool for diaspora empowerment. Second, I locate transnational cognitive justice as complementary to the international justice project of achieving transitional justice in home countries. Third, I critically draw from principles and methodologies of human rights education and diasporic empowerment to develop a typology for understanding transnational cognitive justice consisting of three pillars: community, collective memory, and hybridized empowerment. I analyze the developments and achievements of the Armenian, Lithuanian, and Bosnian Diasporas for inspiring the proposed components of transnational cognitive justice and providing models for emerging diasporic communities. Finally, I conclude with preliminary thoughts on the impacts of human rights education and transnational cognitive justice on global displacement, populism, and shrinking civic space. With my diasporic spirit, I invite dialogue on conceptualizing transnational cognitive justice and its impacts.