Políticas de la memoria y el olvido

Abstract

In this article the author presents a three dimensional political outlook for South America: the culture of fear (the dictatorships of the past), the culture of plurality and tolerance (the regimes on the road to democratization); and the culture of historical memory. This last dimension underpins Sosnovski’s core thesis in this essay, the unhesitating duty to regain the collective historical memory of the period of military repression, and found upon it a democratic and open society. The author also analyzes the past, present and future role of intellectuals in this process of transition, from a military repression to a civil democracy. The author concludes that if full democratization is to be attained (political, educational, cultural, historical), the cultural dimension must be salvaged —revitalized by recollection— to strengthen the “culture for democracy” and stall the “bygones’ policy”, so that the difficult and fragile transit from an Empire of the Sword to an Empire of the Law can persevere and consolidate.