From Dictatorship to Democracy: Confronting the Authoritarian Past in Brazil

In From Dictatorship to Democracy: Confronting the Authoritarian Past in Brazil, Dr Gisele Iecker de Almeida offers a thought-provoking examination of how government initiatives construct representations of the past and can play a crucial role in shaping collective memory. Focusing on Brazil’s difficult heritage, this groundbreaking monograph delves into the complex landscape of memory surrounding the dictatorship and its enduring legacies.

Through a critical analysis of Brazilian policies implemented between 1995 and 2016, including the Special Commission on Political Deaths and Disappearances, the Amnesty Commission, Revealed Memories, and the Brazilian National Truth Commission, de Almeida unveils how these initiatives have attempted to influence the understanding and perception of the dictatorship.

This book challenges the notion of a purely factual and neutral approach to remembering the past, illuminating how memory, policymaking, and historical interpretation are intricately intertwined. It examines the interplay between memory and politics, shedding light on how government initiatives actively participate in the process of constructing representations of the past. From the selective portrayal of events to the formulation of grand narratives about the past, de Almeida presents a comprehensive analysis of the discursive mechanisms and rhetorical patterns employed by Brazilian transitional justice initiatives.

This monograph is an indispensable resource for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in memory politics, transitional justice, and the construction of representations of the past. It offers a fresh perspective on the power dynamics involved in memory-making and invites readers to critically reflect on how the past is represented.