The Power of Memory and Violence in Central America

This book explores the power of words in post-Peace El Salvador and Guatemala-their violent and equally liberating power. The volume explores the entire post-Peace Accords era in both Central American countries. In "post-conflict" settings, denying or forgetting the repressive past and its many victims does violence to those victims, while remembering and giving testimony about the past can be cathartic for survivors, relatives, and even for perpetrators. This project will appeal to readers interested in development, societies in transition, global peace studies, and Central American studies.

List of contents

Introduction: On the Calle del Olvido.- Chapter 1: The speakers, writers, painters, and plasterers.- Chapter 2: Schizophrenic memory in the land of La Eterna Primavera.- Chapter 3: Nunca Más in Guatemala.- Chapter 4: Verdad or olvido in El Pulgarcito de América.- Chapter 5: The past as monument in El Salvador.- Chapter 6: Contested discourse in El Salvador and Guatemala.- Conclusion: The power of words, and of remembering.

About the author

Rachel Hatcher is an independent researcher. She held fellowships at the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at the University of the Free State, South Africa, and Concordia University, Québec.

Summary

This book explores the power of words in post-Peace El Salvador and Guatemala—their violent and equally liberating power. The volume explores the entire post-Peace Accords era in both Central American countries. In “post-conflict” settings, denying or forgetting the repressive past and its many victims does violence to those victims, while remembering and giving testimony about the past can be cathartic for survivors, relatives, and even for perpetrators. This project will appeal to readers interested in development, societies in transition, global peace studies, and Central American studies.

Product details

• Authors: Rachel Hatcher
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.01.2018
• EAN: 9783319897844
• ISBN: 978-3-31-989784-4
• No. of pages: 238
• Dimensions: 149 mm x 217 mm x 20 mm
• Weight: 464 g
• Illustrations: XVII, 238 p. 10 illus.
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Comparative and international political science; B, Economic Policy, Political Science, Regional Development, Social Change, Political Science and International Studies, Public Administration, Public Policy, Economic development, Development policy, Development Studies, Development and Social Change, Latin America—Politics and government, South & Central America (including Mexico), Latin America, Latin American Politics, Central America;Violence;El Salvador;Guatemala;Colombia