Escraches: Demonstrations, communication and political memory in post-dictatorial Argentina

Abstract

This article examines Escraches, a new form of political demonstration in post-dictatorial Argentina where hundreds of torturers and assassins, responsible for the torture and disappearance of 30,000 people, have benefited from amnesty laws. The lack of truth and accountability has had social and cultural consequences. The demonstrations, which challenge legalized impunity, engage with contemporary issues of memory and communication concerning the 'Dirty War' of 1976-83. The research focuses particularly on public sphere reactions to these communication strategies among young people with no direct personal memory of the violent repression that took place. The analysis is based on empirical data collected during 1998 through extensive interviews with young people from Buenos Aires.