Full Description
This book critically examines transitional justice in Mexico. It explores how the Mexican democratic regime dealt with the grave human rights violations perpetrated by security forces during the authoritarian era (1929-2000) through a Special Prosecutor's Office. It offers a complete account of the diverse factors that facilitated the emergence (and policing) of Mexico's transitional justice process. Whilst transitional justice should contribute to the advancement of liberal democracy and, consequently, generate the following benefits: truth, justice, political reconciliation, peace, this book argues that Mexico is a case of transitional injustice. It is an example of how in some societies transitional justice mechanisms are intentionally implemented in ways that, instead of generating justice, produce impunity. It makes important contributions to some of the broader debates addressed by scholars on transitional justice and gives them reason to re-examine transitional justice processes in other countries in a new light.
Contents
Introduction.- Chapter 1. Authoritarianism and Past Atrocity in Mexico, 1929-2000.- Chapter 2. Transitional Justice: A Field of Practice and Knowledge.- Chapter 3. Neither Inevitable, Nor Necessary: The Emergence of Mexico's Transitional Justice Process.- Chapter 4. Making Up Transitional Justice: Defining, Classifying, and Acting on Past Human Rights Abuses.- Chapter 5. The Retributive Goals of the Special Prosecutor's Office: A De Facto Amnesty.- Conclusions.
