Remembering Perpetrators, Victims, and Heroes: The Mnemonic Legacy of Violence

Political leaders legitimize selective accountability for mass violence by shaping societal memory through the roles of perpetrators, victims, and heroes. This study reveals that governments justify their approach to transitional justice by emphasizing these identities, rather than uniformly pursuing accountability. Investigating Cambodia, Indonesia, and Rwanda, the research combines interviews with political and civil society actors, field visits to memorial sites, and political development analysis. It demonstrates how selective memory of violence serves as a tool for internal and external legitimization, offering insights into the complex dynamics of post-conflict societies.

Williams, T. (2025). Remembering Perpetrators, Victims, and Heroes: The Mnemonic Legacy of Violence. Security Studies, 34(2), 360–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2025.2497963