Memorialising Violence amid Transition: Pedagogical Expectations in Colombia’s Memory Sites

Abstract

ABSTRACT In contexts of post-conflict transition, memory sites such as museums and memorials have the dual role of symbolising redress and serving as pedagogical spaces aimed at non-recurrence. Through field interviews with individuals working with state-sponsored memory sites in Colombia, I explore how memory agents navigate these dual roles. Findings suggest that the pedagogical role of memory sites is a source of dispute framed by interactions among individuals. Debates over pedagogy illustrate broader tensions over the institutionalisation of memories in state spaces and their potential contribution to transitional justice. This article contributes empirical insight into the interactional aspects of memory work.