Politics of Impunity: Torture, the Armed Forces and the Failure of Transitional Justice in Brazil

The book Politics of Impunity investigates the failure of the anti-impunity agenda in Brazil, from the release of the truth commission report in 2014 to the election of Jair Bolsonaro in 2018. It examines the conditions of possibility of the global anti-impunity agenda and provides a new reading of transitional justice, investigating alternative ways of understanding militarism in the absence of warfare.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The book "Politics of Impunity" delves into the complex and multifaceted issue of impunity in Brazil,spanning from the release of the Truth Commission report in 2014,which exposed the crimes of the military regime (1964-1985),to the election of former-paratrooper and far-Right leader Jair Bolsonaro in 2018. By drawing upon debates in critical military studies,transitional justice,and memory studies,the book goes beyond the mere implementation of accountability measures and explores the broader conditions that shape the global anti-impunity agenda. It examines the historical factors that have propelled the question of impunity to the forefront of discussions on large-scale political violence. Through a case study of Brazil,the book offers a fresh perspective on transitional justice,examining alternative ways of understanding militarism in the absence of warfare. It sheds light on the mechanisms through which narratives of accountability and the memory of militarism work to define and confine what constitutes unacceptable violence,who are recognized as victims and perpetrators,and what constitutes reasonable forms of justice and resistance. By undertaking a comprehensive analysis of these issues,the book provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Brazil and other countries in the fight against impunity.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 161 x 240 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474491501