Infrastructures of Impunity: New Order Violence in Indonesia

Infrastructures of Impunity explores how impunity for the Cold War Indonesian genocide (1965–66) is a legal status, cultural, and social process. It argues that truth-telling and creative responses to revelations about the past have begun to undermine the infrastructure by countering its temporality, affect, and social stigmatization, demonstrating its contingency and specific actions, policies, and processes that would begin to dismantle it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Infrastructures of Impunity: A Multi-Faceted Approach

Elizabeth F. Drexler delves into the intricate web of factors that contribute to the perpetuation of impunity for the perpetrators of the Cold War Indonesian genocide (1965-1966). She argues that impunity extends beyond mere legal status and encompasses cultural and social dimensions. This multifaceted phenomenon encompasses a range of elements, including bureaucratic, military, legal, political, educational, and emotional factors. While these elements may operate independently at times, they collectively form a cohesive and dynamic infrastructure that explains the persistence of impunity.

One notable aspect of this infrastructure is the influence of truth-telling on responses to state violence. While truth-telling is often seen as a crucial first step in addressing historical atrocities, Drexler suggests that it can also align with the existing infrastructure of impunity. For instance, truth-telling may serve to reinforce the power of those in authority, further entrenching impunity. On the other hand, creative and artistic responses to revelations about the past have the potential to challenge and undermine this infrastructure. These responses can counter the temporal aspects of impunity, its emotional impact, and the social stigmatization associated with it. By demonstrating the contingency and specific actions, policies, and processes that contribute to impunity, these responses offer a roadmap for dismantling the infrastructure.

Drexler's analysis raises important questions about the potential for infrastructures of impunity to emerge in established democracies. It highlights the need for a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to addressing historical atrocities. This approach should involve not only legal measures but also cultural and social interventions that challenge the narratives and power structures that support impunity. By fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and empathy, societies can work towards dismantling the infrastructures of impunity and ensuring that the perpetrators of historical crimes are held accountable for their actions.

In conclusion, Elizabeth F. Drexler's insights into the infrastructures of impunity provide a valuable framework for understanding the persistence of impunity for historical atrocities. By recognizing the multi-faceted nature of this phenomenon, societies can develop effective strategies to dismantle these infrastructures and promote justice and accountability for all.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501773105