Abstract

This thesis explores the emergence of social justice collectivities, such as the Association In Defense of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC) and other wrongful conviction organizations In Canada. It approaches this multi-disciplinary topic through an anthropological lens, and is based on interviews conducted in a multi-site field work context. Using the theoretical notions of "networks" and "membership" to frame the analysis, it is shown that the formation and dynamics of wrongful conviction networks are centered on the notion of social justice. This notion serves to regroup a diverse array of individuals and organizations by providing them with a shared aspiration. Furthermore, this aspiration enables the constituent members of such networks to both work together across difference in an effort to achieve justice for individuals who have been wrongfully convicted, and to thrive and continue to grow as organizations. The main contribution of this research lies in its explanation of the network's formation and dynamics, which may in turn serve as a model for comparison with other networks. The thesis concludes with a series of recommendations for action by wrongful conviction networks, and a series of reflections which highlight how ethnographic descriptions maybe used by varying audiences for differing purposes.