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Nova Southeastern University Department of Conflict Analysis & Resolution Ph.D. Program
The struggle of man against power, is the struggle of memory against forgetting.
Milan Kundera
When we struggle for power, memory gets developed to prevent us from further struggles. Yet, it is our perceptions with which we manipulate memory to be perceived by others as positive or negative.
The interconnection between history and memory has been analyzed in:
The study of national identity how constructed and imagined, as in the imagined communities of Benedict Anderson, both from the elitist top-down and from the bottom-up narratives emerge from collective memories. For social movements, history and memory represent a tool kit (Ann Swidler) of images and subjects used to reframe a social movements objectives to solidify its legitimacy and dynamic strength.
Why focus on memoirs, narratives and oral studies and not just on works of history?
1. Because conventional histories focus on unfriendly institutions, processes or paradigms which do not allow for an understanding of how individual lives are affected. 2. In order to re-capture the dignity of the individual, especially important in the context of conflicts which occur at the expense of individual lives, we must turn to other disciplines like anthropology and other resources such as memoirs.
History and memory represent distinct ways of representing the past History
Authoritative, selective interpretation of the past Structured as a formal, linear (chronological) narrative Often teleological in the sense of history as progress toward ever better outcomes Fixed prevailing attitude until formally challenged by new schools of thought.
Memory
Can be collective or individual Can co-exist with history either in tension or as reenforcing narratives that legitimate official histories Can represent alternative renditions of the past through oral literature Not fixed but alterable.
Insecurity Humiliation
Emotional Perspective
Interests Perspective
Indignation Confusion
Cognitive Perspective
Violation Victimization
Transitional justice
Transitional justice showcases two different ways of dealing with the past: 1. The rst involves an effort to address the legacy of violence as the basis for promoting reconciliation, rather than prosecuting perpetrators in order to pursue justice 2. The second model puts the onus on justice through trials.
Theory
Johan Galtung: Positive Peace
Positive peace is more than the absence of violence; it is the presence of social justice through equal opportunity, a fair distribution of power and resources, equal protection and impartial enforcement of law. Michel Foucault: Discourse as Power
Interpretation of reality is an assertion of power
TRC
Record the past Identify perpetrators Overcome denial Restore dignity & Promote peace Educate about the past Prevent future violence Form basis for Democratic order Promote legitimate reconciliation and stabilize new regime Create a collective memory
Goals
Identify perpetrators Overcome denial
TRM
Let go of the past with apologies & forgiveness Restore dignity & Promote peace Educate about the past Prevent future violence Form basis for Democratic peace Promote legitimate reconciliation and social harmony Create a collective memory
Role of TRM
Although it starts with a small group (victims, perpetrators, and mitigate practitioners), TRM goals are national Media, Academic, and Politics play a huge role Custom plays a huge role Perpetrator's recorded apology is used as a healing The ultimate goal is to reconcile groups (identity groups)
Strengths
Provides dignity to victims Converts perpetrators to human rights advocates Provides recognition of past crimes Defeats Impunity Humanizes the Other Provides peace & security De-legitimizes denial of violent past
Weaknesses
Truth is not always an original form of reconciliation TRM model may be viewed as illegitimate tribal practice Suitable only for the willing participants (victims & perpetrators) Lack of government/donor funding Lack of minority/privileged participation Hard to represent all views Too open to the charge of purposeful manipulation of victims truths Truth may never be recorded and told.
Summary of RTM
One among many options Model in transition Malleability Acknowledges and addresses emotional sufferings Individual to Communal impact Legitimizes new options by refuting the old
References:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Kundera, M. (1999). The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. New York: HarperPerennial Modern Classics. Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined communities. London: Verso. Swidler, A. (2001). Talk of love: How culture matters. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Lazaro J. F. (1995). The Distorted Past: A Reinterpretation of Europe. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. Davis, J. (2005). Papa Bear, The Life and Legacy of George Halas. New York: McGraw-Hill. Jehn, K. (1994), "Enhancing effectiveness: an investigation of advantages and disadvantages of value-based intragroup conflict", International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 5 pp.223-38. Lanegran, K. 2005). Kimberly. "Truth Commissions, Human Rights Trials, and the Politics of Memory." Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East 25, no.1 Galtung, Reader in Peace Studies. Grenz, S. (1996). A primer on postmodernism. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
7. 8. 9.
10. Kraybill, R. (1988). From Head to Heart: The Cycle of Reconciliation. Conciliation Quarterly, Vol. 7 No. 4. 11. Chapman AR, Ball P. 2001. The Truth of Truth Commissions: Comparative Lessons from Haiti, South Africa, and Guatemala. Human Rights Quarterly Vol. 23: pgs. 1-43
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