University of Pennsylvania Press

      Philadelphia

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      Published by

      University of Pennsylvania Press

      Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4112

      First paperback printing 2007

      Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Robben, Antonius C. G. M.

      Political violence and trauma in Argentina / Antonius C. G. M. Robben.

      p. cm. (The ethnography of political violence)

      ISBN-13: 978-0-8122-2006-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)

      ISBN-10: 0-8122-2006-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)

      Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.

      1. Political violence—Argentina—History—20th century. 2. Argentina—Politics and government—1943–. 3. Argentina—Social conditions—1945–1983. 4. Argentina—Social conditions—1983–. I. Title. II. Series

      To Ellen,

      Oscar, and Sofia

       Contents

       Preface

       Part I. Groundswell: The Rise and Fall of Argentine Crowds

       1. Changing the Course of History: Dignity, Emancipation, and Entrenchment

       2. The Time of the Furnaces: Proscription, Compromise, and Insurrection

       3. A Breeze Turned into Hurricane: The Apogee of Crowd Mobilization

       4. Crowd Clashes: Euphoria, Disenchantment, and Rupture

       Part II. Utopia Lost: Guerrilla War and Counterinsurgency

       5. Shots in the Night: Revenge, Revolution, and Insurgency

       6. The Long Arm of Popular Justice: Punishment, Rebellion, and Sacrifice

       7. Revolution Postponed: Anger, Frustration, and Entitlement

       8. The Shadows of Death: Improvisation, Counterinsurgency, and Downfall

       Part III. Breaking Hearts and Minds: Torture, Self, and Resocialization

       9. The War of Cultures: Hierarchy Versus Equality, Christianity Versus Marxism

       10. The Wheelworks of Repression: Assault, Abduction, and Annihilation

       11. The Operating Theater: Torture, Dehumanization, and Traumatization

       12. Political Prisons and Secret Detention Centers: Dismantlement, Desocialization, and Rehabilitation

       Part IV. Argentina’s Nightmare: The Forced Disappearance

       13. The Disappearance: Despair, Terror, and Fear

       14. The Search: Hope, Anguish, and Illusion

       15. The Call for Truth: Defiance, Resistance, and Maternal Power

       16. Recovery and Reburial of the Past: Democracy, Accountability, and Impunity

       Conclusion: The Spirals of Violence and Trauma

       Appendix 1: Interview List

       Appendix 2: Acronyms

       Notes

       Bibliography

       Index

       Acknowledgments