Clarifying the Past: Understanding Historical Commissions in Conflicted and Divided Societies

Clarifying the Past provides a comprehensive analysis of state-sponsored historical commissions in conflicted and divided societies, developing a theoretical and methodological framework within the historical dialogue paradigm. It includes an extensive empirical analysis of 27 historical commissions from 1990s to the present, showing their potential capacities in different settings. The increased recognition of their potential to address legacies of contested pasts and their introduction to transitional justice makes the book highly relevant for scholars and practitioners in the fields of historical theory, public history, and historical dialogue, transitional justice, peace, and conflict studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 27 May 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Clarifying the Past: A Theoretical and Methodological Framework for State-Sponsored Historical Commissions in Conflicted and Divided Societies
State-sponsored historical commissions have become increasingly prevalent in conflicted and divided societies, playing a crucial role in addressing the legacies of contested pasts and promoting transitional justice. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of these commissions, developing a theoretical and methodological framework within the historical dialogue paradigm. The theoretical and methodological framework is complemented with an extensive empirical analysis of 27 historical commissions that operated in different social and political contexts from the 1990s to the present. The detailed examination of these cases gives a broad perspective into the potential capacities of historical commissions in different settings.

The book begins by examining the historical context of state-sponsored historical commissions, tracing their origins and development over time. It then explores the various functions and roles of these commissions, including truth-seeking, reconciliation, and accountability. The authors argue that historical commissions can play a vital role in promoting social cohesion, healing, and reconciliation, particularly in societies that have experienced significant conflict and violence.

The empirical analysis of the 27 historical commissions is conducted using a variety of methods, including interviews, document analysis, and fieldwork. The cases are diverse, ranging from commissions established in post-conflict countries such as Rwanda and Sierra Leone to those established in countries undergoing democratic transitions such as South Africa and Brazil. The authors highlight the challenges faced by these commissions, including political interference, resource constraints, and resistance from victims and perpetrators.

Despite these challenges, the book argues that historical commissions can be effective in addressing the legacies of contested pasts. The authors provide several examples of successful commissions, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, which helped to promote reconciliation and healing after the end of apartheid. They also discuss the challenges faced by commissions in countries such as Guatemala and Chile, where the legacies of human rights abuses are still being addressed.

One of the key contributions of this book is its theoretical and methodological framework. The authors argue that historical commissions can be understood as a form of public history, which involves the production and dissemination of historical knowledge to the public. They argue that historical commissions can play a crucial role in shaping public memory and understanding of the past, particularly in societies that have experienced significant conflict and violence.

The book also explores the relationship between historical commissions and transitional justice. The authors argue that historical commissions can play a vital role in promoting transitional justice by providing a platform for victims and perpetrators to come forward and share their experiences. They also argue that historical commissions can help to address the root causes of conflict and violence by promoting social justice and human rights.

However, the book also highlights the challenges faced by historical commissions in promoting transitional justice. The authors argue that historical commissions can be vulnerable to political interference and that they may not always be able to deliver the desired outcomes. They also argue that historical commissions can be limited in their ability to address the legacies of human rights abuses that have occurred in the past.

In conclusion, Clarifying the Past: A Theoretical and Methodological Framework for State-Sponsored Historical Commissions in Conflicted and Divided Societies is a valuable book for scholars and practitioners in the fields of historical theory, public history, and historical dialogue, transitional justice, peace and conflict studies. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of state-sponsored historical commissions, developing a theoretical and methodological framework within the historical dialogue paradigm. The empirical analysis of 27 historical commissions is conducted using a variety of methods, and the book highlights the challenges faced by these commissions. Despite these challenges, the book argues that historical commissions can be effective in addressing the legacies of contested pasts and promoting transitional justice.

Weight: 406g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367501020