Human Rights Policies in Chile

This book analyses Chile's truth and justice policies implemented between 1990 and 2013. The book's central assumption is that human rights policies are a form of public policy and consequently they are the product of compromises among different political actors. Because of their political nature, these incomplete truth and justice policies instead of satisfying the victims' demands and providing a mechanism for closure and reconciliation generate new demands and new policies and actions. However, these new policies and actions are partially satisfactory to those pursuing justice and the truth and unacceptable to those trying to protect the impunity structure built by General Pinochet and his supporters. Thus, while the 40th anniversary of the violent military coup that brought General Pinochet to power serves as a milestone with which to end this policy analysis, Chile's human rights historical drama is unfinished and likely to generate new demands for truth and justice policies.

Offers a comprehensive history and analysis of human rights policies in Chile Discusses the role of the Courts and the military during and after the Pinochet dictatorship and analyzes the impact of Amnesty, Truth Commissions, Trials, Reparations and apologies Features interviews with key political actors including two former presidents, members of the military, human rights organizers and government officials

Autorentext
Silvia Borzutzky is Teaching Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Carnegie Mellon University, USA.

Klappentext

This book analyses Chile s truth and justice policies implemented between 1990 and 2013. The book s central assumption is that human rights policies are a form of public policy and consequently they are the product of compromises among different political actors. Because of their political nature, these incomplete truth and justice policies instead of satisfying the victims demands and providing a mechanism for closure and reconciliation generate new demands and new policies and actions. However, these new policies and actions are partially satisfactory to those pursuing justice and the truth and unacceptable to those trying to protect the impunity structure built by General Pinochet and his supporters. Thus, while the 40th anniversary of the violent military coup that brought General Pinochet to power serves as a milestone with which to end this policy analysis, Chile s human rights historical drama is unfinished and likely to generate new demands for truth and justice policies.

Inhalt

1. Transitional Justice .- 2. Pinochet and the Politics of Destruction .- 3. The Aylwin Administration: Doing As Much As Possible .- 4. The Frei Administration and the Politics of Denial .- 5. The Lagos Administration: Moving Along Multiple Fronts .- 6. The Bachelet Administration: Identifying and Remembering the Victims .- 7. Commemorating Chile's Bicentennial and the Coup's 40th Anniversary During the Piñera Administration .- 8. Conclusions.