- Summary
- "Law and the Politics of Memory: Confronting the Past examines law's role as a tool of memory politics in the efforts of contemporary societies to work through the traumas of their past. The book examines how and why law has become so central in processes in which the past is constituted as a series of injustices that need to be rectified and can allegedly be repaired. Using the examples of French colonialism and Vichy, as well as addressing the politics of memory surrounding the Holocaust, communism and colonialism, this book provides a critical exploration of law's role in 'belated' transitional justice contexts. As such, it explores different legal modalities in processes of working through the past; addressing the implications of regulating history and memory through legal categories and legislative acts, whilst exploring how trials, restitution cases, and memory laws manage to fulfil such varied expectations as clarifying truth, rendering homage to memory and reconciling societies.Legal scholars, historians and political scientists, especially those working with transitional justice, history and memory politics in particular, will find this book a stimulating exploration of the specificity of law as an instrument and forum of the politics of memory. "-- Provided by publisher.
- Format
- Book
- Author/Creator
- Löytömäki, Stiina, author.
- Published
- Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2014
- Locale
- France
European Union countries
Algeria
- Contents
-
Introduction : the recent legalization of colonialism in France
European memory : memory claims and their Legal "regulation" in the European Union
France and challenges to French universalism : towards accepting collective responsibility for Vichy crimes
Trial about discourse : torture during the Algerian war
Memory laws and the politics of victimhood
Conclusion : why law?
- Notes
-
"GlassHouse Book"
Based on author's thesis (doctoral) -- European University Institute, 2010, under title: Committing the Irreparable: Law and dealing with past injustice
Includes bibliographical references (pages 133-150) and index.
Introduction : the recent legalization of colonialism in France -- European memory : memory claims and their Legal "regulation" in the European Union -- France and challenges to French universalism : towards accepting collective responsibility for Vichy crimes -- Trial about discourse : torture during the Algerian war -- Memory laws and the politics of victimhood -- Conclusion : why law?
