Necropolitics: Mass Graves and Exhumations in the Age of Human Rights (Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights)

"This excellent and timely volume . . . opens up new avenues of global comparison and investigation. As if understanding the past was not daunting in itself, the chapters in this collection provide fascinating accounts of the political and legal struggles surrounding exhumations, and these often include popular mobilizations that are both intensely local and globally connected. I know of no other volume that addresses the topic of exhumations as profoundly, and in as many disparate cases in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia."—From the Foreword by Richard Ashby WilsonThe unmarked mass graves left by war and acts of terror are lasting traces of violence in communities traumatized by fear, conflict, and unfinished mourning. Like silent testimonies to the wounds of history, these graves continue to inflict harm on communities and families who wish to bury or memorialize their lost kin. Changing political circumstances can reveal the location of mass graves or facilitate their exhumation, but the challenge of identifying and recovering the dead is only the beginning of a complex process that brings the rights and wishes of a bereaved society onto a transnational stage.__Necropolitics: Mass Graves and Exhumations in the Age of Human Rights__Contributors: Zoë Crossland, Francisco Ferrándiz, Luis Fondebrider, Iosif Kovras, Heonik Kwån, Isaias Rojas-Perez, Antonius C. G. M. Robben, Elena Lesley Rozen, Katerina Stefatos, Francesc Torres, Sara Wagner, Richard Ashby Wilson.Francisco Ferrándiz is Associate Researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and author of many books, including .Antonius C. G. M. Robben is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Utrecht. He is author of and editor of , both available from the University of Pennsylvania Press. "This excellent and timely volume . . . opens up new avenues of global comparison and investigation. As if understanding the past was not daunting in itself, the chapters in this collection provide fascinating accounts of the political and legal struggles surrounding exhumations, and these often include popular mobilizations that are both intensely local and globally connected. I know of no other volume that addresses the topic of exhumations as profoundly, and in as many disparate cases in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia."From the Foreword by Richard Ashby Wilson The unmarked mass graves left by war and acts of terror are lasting traces of violence in communities traumatized by fear, conflict, and unfinished mourning. Like silent testimonies to the wounds of history, these graves continue to inflict harm on communities and families who wish to bury or memorialize their lost kin. Changing political circumstances can reveal the location of mass graves or facilitate their exhumation, but the challenge of identifying and recovering the dead is only the beginning of a complex process that brings the rights and wishes of a bereaved society onto a transnational stage. Necropolitics: Mass Graves and Exhumations in the Age of Human Rights examines the political and social implications of this sensitive undertaking in specific local and national contexts. International forensic methods, local-level claims, national political developments, and transnational human rights discourse converge in detailed case studies from the United States, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Korea. Contributors analyze the role of exhumations in transitional justice from the steps of interviewing eyewitnesses and survivors to the painstaking forensic recovery and comparison of DNA profiles. This innovative volume demonstrates that contemporary exhumations are as much a source of personal, historical, and criminal evidence as instruments of redress for victims through legal accountability and memory politics. Contributors: Zo Crossland, Francisco Ferrndiz, Luis Fondebrider, Iosif Kovras, Heonik Kwn, Isaias Rojas-Perez, Antonius C. G. M. Robben, Elena Lesley Rozen, Katerina Stefatos, Francesc Torres, Sara Wagner, Richard Ashby Wilson. Francisco Ferrndiz is Associate Researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and author of many books, including El pasado bajo tierra: Exhumaciones contemporneas de la Guerra Civil . Antonius C. G. M. Robben is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Utrecht. He is author of Political Violence and Trauma in Argentina and editor of Iraq at a Distance: What Anthropologists Can Teach Us About the War , both available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

The unmarked mass graves left by war and acts of terror are lasting traces of violence in communities traumatized by fear, conflict, and unfinished mourning. Like silent testimonies to the wounds of history, these graves continue to inflict harm on communities and families that wish to bury or memorialize their lost kin. Changing political circumstances can reveal the location of mass graves or facilitate their exhumation, but the challenge of identifying and recovering the dead is only the beginning of a complex process that brings the rights and wishes of a bereaved society onto a transnational stage.

Necropolitics: Mass Graves and Exhumations in the Age of Human Rights examines the political and social implications of this sensitive undertaking in specific local and national contexts. International forensic methods, local-level claims, national political developments, and transnational human rights discourse converge in detailed case studies from the United States, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Korea. Contributors analyze the role of exhumations in transitional justice from the steps of interviewing eyewitnesses and survivors to the painstaking forensic recovery and comparison of DNA profiles. This innovative volume demonstrates that contemporary exhumations are as much a source of personal, historical, and criminal evidence as instruments of redress for victims through legal accountability and memory politics.

Contributors: Zoë Crossland, Francisco Ferrándiz, Luis Fondebrider, Iosif Kovras, Heonik Kwon, Isaias Rojas-Perez, Antonius C. G. M. Robben, Elena Lesley, Katerina Stefatos, Francesc Torres, Sarah Wagner, Richard Ashby Wilson.

The Unmarked Mass Graves Left By War And Acts Of Terror Are Lasting Traces Of Violence In Communities Traumatized By Fear, Conflict, And Unfinished Mourning. Like Silent Testimonies To The Wounds Of History, These Graves Continue To Inflict Harm On Communities And Families That Wish To Bury Or Memorialize Their Lost Kin. Changing Political Circumstances Can Reveal The Location Of Mass Graves Or Facilitate Their Exhumation, But The Challenge Of Identifying And Recovering The Dead Is Only The Beginning Of A Complex Process That Brings The Rights And Wishes Of A Bereaved Society Onto A Transnational Stage. Necropolitics: Mass Graves And Exhumations In The Age Of Human Rights Examines The Political And Social Implications Of This Sensitive Undertaking In Specific Local And National Contexts. International Forensic Methods, Local-level Claims, National Political Developments, And Transnational Human Rights Discourse Converge In Detailed Case Studies From The United States, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain, Bosnia-herzegovina, Greece, Rwanda, Cambodia, And Korea. Contributors Analyze The Role Of Exhumations In Transitional Justice From The Steps Of Interviewing Eyewitnesses And Survivors To The Painstaking Forensic Recovery And Comparison Of Dna Profiles. This Innovative Volume Demonstrates That Contemporary Exhumations Are As Much A Source Of Personal, Historical, And Criminal Evidence As Instruments Of Redress For Victims Through Legal Accountability And Memory Politics. Contributors: Zoë Crossland, Francisco Ferrándiz, Luis Fondebrider, Iosif Kovras, Heonik Kwån, Isaias Rojas-perez, Antonius C. G. M. Robben, Elena Lesley Rozen, Katerina Stefatos, Francesc Torres, Sara Wagner, Richard Ashby Wilson. The unmarked mass graves left by war and acts of terror are lasting traces of violence in communities traumatized by fear, conflict, and unfinished mourning. Like silent testimonies to the wounds of history, these graves continue to inflict harm on communities and families that wish to bury or memorialize their lost kin. Changing political circumstances can reveal the location of mass graves or facilitate their exhumation, but the challenge of identifying and recovering the dead is only the beginning of a complex process that brings the rights and wishes of a bereaved society onto a transnational stage. Necropolitics: Mass Graves and Exhumations in the Age of Human Rights examines the political and social implications of this sensitive undertaking in specific local and national contexts. International forensic methods, local-level claims, national political developments, and transnational human rights discourse converge in detailed case studies from the United States, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Korea. Contributors analyze the role of exhumations in transitional justice from the steps of interviewing eyewitnesses and survivors to the painstaking forensic recovery and comparison of DNA profiles. This innovative volume demonstrates that contemporary exhumations are as much a source of personal, historical, and criminal evidence as instruments of redress for victims through legal accountability and memory politics. Contributors : Zoë Crossland, Francisco Ferrándiz, Luis Fondebrider, Iosif Kovras, Heonik Kwon, Isaias Rojas-Perez, Antonius C. G. M. Robben, Elena Lesley, Katerina Stefatos, Francesc Torres, Sarah Wagner, Richard Ashby Wilson. "The unmarked mass graves left by war and acts of terror are lasting traces of violence in communities traumatized by fear, conflict, and unfinished mourning. LIke silent testimonies to the wounds of history, these graves continue to inflict harm on communities and families that wish to bury or memorialize their lost kin. Changing political circumstances can reveal the location of mass graves or facilitate their exhumation, but the challenge of identifying and recovering the dead is only the beginning of a complex process that brings the rights and wishes of a bereaved society onto a transnational stage. Necropolitics: Mass Graves and Exhumations in the Age of Human Rights examines the political and social implications of this sensitive undertaking in specific local and national contexts. International forensic methods, local-level claims, national political developments, and transnational human rights discourse converge in detailed case studies from the United States, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Korea. Contributors analyze the role of exhumations in transitional justice from the steps of interviewing eyewitnesses and survivors to the painstaking forensic recovery and comparison of DNA profiles. This innovative volume demonstrates that contemporary exhumations are as much a source of personal, historical, and criminal evidence as instruments of redress for victims through legal accountability and memory politics"--Unedited summary from book jacket La 4e de couverture indique : "The unmarked mass graves left by war and acts of terror are lasting traces of violence in communities traumatized by fear, conflict, and unfinished mourning. Like silent testimonies to the wounds of history, these graves continue to inflict harm on communities and families that wish to bury or memorialize their lost kin. Changing political circumstances can reveal the location of mass graves or facilitate their exhumation, but the challenge of identifying and recovering the dead is only the beginning of a complex process that brings the rights and wishes of a bereaved society onto a transnational stage. Necropolitics: Mass Graves and Exhumations in the Age of Human Rights examines the political and social implications of this sensitive undertaking in specific local and national contexts. International forensic methods, local-level claims, national political developments, and transnational human rights discourse converge in detailed case studies from the United States, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Korea. Contributors analyze the role of exhumations in transitional justice from the steps of interviewing eyewitnesses and survivors to the painstaking forensic recovery and comparison of DNA profiles. This innovative volume demonstrates that contemporary exhumations are as much a source of personal, historical, and criminal evidence as instruments of redress for victims through legal accountability and memory politics." Introduction: The ethnography of exhumations -- Francisco Ferrándiz and Antonius C.G.M. Robben Forensic anthropology and the investigation of political violence : lessons learned from Latin America and the Balkans -- Luis Fondebrider Exhumations, territoriality, and necropolitics in Chile and Argentina -- Antonius C.G.M. Robben Korean War mass graves -- Heonik Kwon Mass graves, landscapes of terror : a Spanish tale -- Francisco Ferrándiz The quandaries of partial and commingled remains : Srebrenica's missing and Korean War casualties compared -- Sarah Wagner -- Photo essay: 9/11 : absence, sediment, and memory -- Francesc Torres Buried silences of the Greek Civil War -- Katerina Stefatos and Iosif Kovras Death in transition : the Truth Commission and the politics of reburial in postconflict Peru -- Isaias Rojas-Perez Death on display : bones and bodies in Cambodia and Rwanda -- Elena Lesley-- Epilogue /-- Zoë Crossland. Necropolitics Title Copyright Contents Foreword Introduction: The Ethnography of Exhumations PART I. EXHUMATIONS AS PRACTICE Chapter 1. Forensic Anthropology and the Investigation of Political Violence: Lessons Learned from Latin America and the Balkans Chapter 2. Exhumations, Territoriality, and Necropolitics in Chile and Argentina Chapter 3. Korean War Mass Graves Chapter 4. Mass Graves, Landscapes of Terror: A Spanish Tale Chapter 5. The Quandaries of Partial and Commingled Remains: Srebrenica’s Missing and Korean War Casualties Compared Photo Essay. 9/11: Absence, Sediment, and Memory PART II. EXHUMATIONS AS MEMORY Chapter 6. Buried Silences of the Greek Civil War Chapter 7. Death in Transition: The Truth Commission and the Politics of Reburial in Postconflict Peru Chapter 8. Death on Display: Bones and Bodies in Cambodia and Rwanda Epilogue List of Contributors Index This remarkable book demonstrates through in-depth case studies from ten countries around the world how the forensic exhumation of mass graves is inextricably intertwined with grassroots initiatives, national political developments, international human rights advocacy, and transnational claims of transitional justice.