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Loading... History, Memory, and State-Sponsored Violence: Time and Justice (Routledge Approaches to History)by Berber Bevernage
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"Modern historiography embraces the notion that time is irreversible, implying that the past should be imagined as something "absent" or "distant." Victims of historical injustice, however, in contrast, often claim that the past got "stuck" in the present and that it retains a haunting presence. History, Memory, and State-Sponsored Violence is centered around the provocative thesis that the way one deals with historical injustice and the ethics of history is strongly dependent on the way one conceives of historical time; that the concept of time traditionally used by historians is structurally more compatible with the perpetrators than the victims point of view. Demonstrating that the claim of victims about the continuing presence of the past should be taken seriously, instead of being treated as merely metaphorical, Berber Bevernage argues that a genuine understanding of the irrevocable past demands a radical break with modern historical discourse and the concept of time. By embedding a profound philosophical reflection on the themes of historical time and historical discourse in a concrete series of case studies, this project transcends the traditional divide between empirical historiography on the one hand and the so called theoretical approaches to history on the other. It also breaks with the conventional analytical philosophy of history that has been dominant during the last decades, raising a series of long-neglected big questions about the historical condition questions about historical time, the unity of history, and the ontological status of present and past programmatically pleading for a new historical ethics"-- No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)303.6Social sciences Social Sciences; Sociology and anthropology Social Processes Conflict and conflict resolution ; ViolenceLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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This book combines incredibly rich and profound theoretical insight with equally attentive and nuanced consideration of empirical cases. On the one hand, Bevernage discusses the ideas of Nietzsche, Benjamin, Jankélévitch, de Man, Habermas, Charles Taylor, Althusser, Derrida and others with the deftness of a philosopher; on the other hand, he employs rigorous qualitative analysis to illuminate the cases of Argentina, South Africa, and Sierra Leone. So few books manage to do both, making this book a standout achievement.
If you are at all interested in the interaction between history, memory, time, and justice - read this book. Granted, it may be difficult to read if you are not used to reading philosophy, but even if you don't get all of the theory, the introduction, conclusions, and case studies are still worth your time. ( )