Political violence in Argentina and its genocidal characteristics

DANIEL FEIERSTEIN

Journal of Genocide Research

Routledge Publishing

Lugar: Philadelphia (USA) & Essex (UK); Año: 2006 vol. 8 p. 149 - 168

1462-3528

The purpose of this article is to examine the question of whether it is legally and sociologically appropriate to use the term "genocide" to designate the events of repressive violence which took place in Latin America under the Doctrine of National Security and, particularly in this study, to designate as genocide the repressive events which occurred in the Republic of Argentina between 1974 and 1983. Although the main objective is the analysis and categorization of the events which took place in this country, I believe that the discussion regarding the genocide aimed against political groups—and in particular the analysis of such a specifically subtle and innovative case as the one in Argentina—will contribute to the discussion about the type of social practice which genocide represents, its functionality and innovation for modernity, and the character and problems of the processes of memory of the genocide experiences.