Miguez Macho, Antonio. Memory and Denial of Violence

The article “Memory and Denial of Violence” argues that genocidal practices extend beyond extermination to include denial, which lacks strict chronological limits. Denialism, as a final phase, involves perpetrators concealing evidence, intimidating witnesses, and blaming victims. State apparatuses often use legal tactics to avoid persecution, as seen in Spain, where the dictatorial regime and subsequent societal transition validated systematic denial. The analysis extends to social memory and discourses, identifying mechanisms of denial. Perpetrators obstruct mourning to dissolve victims’ individuality, preventing personal and social grief. This denial includes banning ceremonies and hiding victims’ fates, evidenced in testimonies from Chile. Such concealment complicates researchers’ efforts to document victims comprehensively. Thus, the article highlights the persistent and multifaceted nature of denial in genocidal practices.

The text is crucial for understanding the concept of complicity because it delves into how denial operates as a crucial aspect of genocidal practices. The article underscores that denial is not just a passive historical phenomenon but an active strategy that implicates various actors in complicity—whether through direct perpetration, institutional support, or societal acquiescence. Understanding and confronting denial is essential for addressing complicity in genocidal practices and advancing justice and accountability.

Macho, Antonio Miguez. 2022. “Memory and Denial of Violence.” In Genocidal Genealogy of Francoism: Violence, Memory and Impunity, 65-88. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. Accessed July 11, 2024.