Symbolic Closure through Memory, Reparation and Revenge in Post-conflict Societies

This article assesses the psychological impact on victims of the nation-building discourse of truth commissions. It asks: to what degree does a nation undergo a uniform and collective truth-telling experience and what are the consequences for individual subjectivities of asserting that nations have psyches or collective consciences?

 

Symbolic closure through memory reparation and revenge in post conflict societies
Brandon Hamber

Brandon Hamber is a former CSVR Programme Manager. He holds a PhD Psychology from The University of Ulster and BA (Hons) MA (Clin. Psych) Ph.D. Clinical Psychology from The University of the Witwatersrand.

 

Richard Ashby Wilson

Richard Ashby Wilson is a American-British social anthropologist of law and human rights. He is the Gladstein Distinguished Professor of Human Rights and Professor of Anthropology and Law at the University of Connecticut. He received his BSc. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from the London School of Economics and Political Science.