History 397FR - ST-The History of Forgiveness

This course will examine the history of pardons, amnesties, and public memory. The center of the course is bound up in the history of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile from the 1960s to the end of the century. In this time each country underwent a period of dictatorial military rule and then a peaceful transition to a democratic government. In every case the question of how democratic governments would deal with the military actors who had committed acts of violence against the civilian population, and how society at large would remember the period of military rule, proved a difficult and long running process. In addition to questions concerning societal memory there is the history of Truth and Reconciliation commissions. We will address this history in the broader context of traditions of clemency in Latin America over time, by looking at other examples of judicial reckoning for political violence in Latin America and in other parts of the world, particularly South Africa.

Open to Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores only.