The Politics of the Past: The Southern Cone and Southern Europe in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This article examines comparatively how six countries—Greece, Portugal and Spain in Southern Europe, and Argentina, Uruguay and Chile in the Southern Cone of Latin America—addressed the legacy of human rights violations under authoritarian rule during the transition to democracy and beyond. It is argued that, while the international and regional context or zeitgeist helped frame the issue and the expectations and actions of the various players involved, domestic conditions were crucial in shaping these processes. Specifically, we look at the transitional context and authoritarian legacies and broader historical legacies. The second half of the essay focuses on the ‘politics of memory’ and how this relates to transitional justice efforts.