Struggle for Memory in Latin America : Recent History and Political Violence

This book examines the struggles that unfolded in Latin America over the memory of the pasts of political violence experienced by the countries of the continent in the second half of the twentieth century: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

This multi-disciplinary volume analyzes struggles over the memory of past political violence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Each chapter offers a comprehensive history of the political violence that occurred in the second half of the twentieth century, analyzing its links with 1) the international context of the cold war, 2) the particular forms of repression and authoritarianism that prevailed in the domestic setting, 3) the social inequalities that were reinforced, and 4) the political, economic, and cultural transformations that Latin American societies were undergoing at the time. Considering the different paths that Latin American countries have taken in their efforts to confront history, the chapters examine how relevant actors look back on past events and vie with one another to give these events meaning in the public sphere. For each country examined, contributors consider the initiatives of transnational, regional, and national actors, as well as factors including class, gender, ethnicity, and geographic location. Chapters give political- and social-historical perspectives and employ tools from a variety of disciplines, including memory studies, history, political science, sociology, and anthropology.