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Breaking the Silence of the Military
Regime: New Politics of Memory
in Brazil
NINA SCHNEIDER
University of Essex, UK and FernUniversit at Hagen, Germany
This article elucidates the latest developments in the politics of memory
regarding the military regime in Brazil. Only recently, I argue, has the
Brazilian state abandoned its politics of silence and started to actively
champion the memory of the left-wing resistance. This new strategy
climaxed in a governmental crisis over a historic plan to establish a
National Truth Commission to investigate human rights violations during
the military regime. The article analyses key incidents and debates prior
to the crisis, and contrasts the post-dictatorial collective memory of Brazil
with that of other Latin American countries.
Keywords: memory, military regime, Brazil, Mem orias Reveladas,
amnesty, truth commission.
Four resignations at a single sweep. This was how the Defence Minister, Nelson
Jobim, and three leading military ofcials reacted to a proposal signed by the Brazilian
President, Luiz In acio Lula da Silva, on 21 December 2009: the third National Program
of Human Rights or PNDH-3 (