The 1960s to 1996 marked the putative end of Guatemala's 36-year internal armed conflict. During the conflict, an estimated 45,000 persons were detained and disappeared, 200,000 were killed, and over 1,000,000 persons were forcibly displaced; 83% of the victims were Mayan indigenous, and state forces conducted an estimated 93% of crimes of the conflict. (Commission for Historical Clarification, 1999). To confront these atrocities, societies and individuals must come to terms with them through collective memory. Through the comparative case study of Rwanda, Argentina, and Guatemala, it is demonstrated how, collectively and individually, "remembering and telling the truth about" unspeakable atrocities has played a central role in both official and personal efforts to reckon with the legacies of brutal dictatorships and to move forward toward democracy and healing. Different groups have used various storytelling methods to negotiate and challenge collective memory in Guatemala. These methods include oral history, testimonies, and visual arts such as murals and photography. These methods have played a critical role in uncovering and documenting past atrocities and promoting healing and reconciliation among different communities.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Comparative Case Study: Guatemala, Rwanda, and Argentina.
- Historical Background of the Guatemala – Civil War (1960-1996).
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to investigate the role of collective memory in facilitating social healing in Guatemala. Through a comparative case study of Rwanda and Guatemala, the author seeks to understand how affected populations use narrative forms to negotiate and challenge collective memory, and whether this process leads to redemption or forgiveness. The research explores the complex relationship between memory, identity, and nation-building in post-conflict societies.
- The impact of collective memory on social healing after violent conflict
- The role of narrative forms in shaping collective memory
- The relationship between memory, identity, and nation-building in post-conflict societies
- The process of reconciliation and forgiveness in the aftermath of violence
- Comparative analysis of Guatemala and Rwanda in the context of post-conflict memory
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Introduction outlines the central argument of the paper, which examines the role of collective memory in promoting social healing in Guatemala. It highlights the importance of remembering and confronting past atrocities in the transition towards democracy and healing.
The Literature Review section delves into the concept of memory and its significance in the context of post-conflict reconstruction. It highlights the role of memory in establishing a collective identity and a narrative of truth. This section also introduces the comparative case study of Guatemala and Rwanda, both nations grappling with the aftermath of violent conflicts.
The Historical Background of the Guatemala - Civil War (1960-1996) section provides context for the Guatemalan conflict. It describes the coup d'état of 1954 and its impact on the country, setting the stage for the long and violent civil war.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the keywords collective memory, social healing, post-conflict transition, narrative forms, reconciliation, forgiveness, Guatemala, Rwanda, comparative case study, memory, identity, and nation-building.
- Quote paper
- Diamond Johnny (Author), 2025, Confronting the Silence and Creating a Shared Memory After a Violent Past. A Case Study of Guatemala, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1192350