Valérie Rosoux

Human Rights and the "work of memory" in international relations

Focuses on the link between human rights and memory in international relations. Characterization of post-Cold War world by an increasing attention to issues of remembering and forgetting; Analysis on the use of memory to cope with actual or potential conflicts among states or nations; Impact of the past human rights violations on international relations.

Is reconciliation negotiable

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to question some basic assumptions regarding reconciliation after wars and mass atrocities. Indeed, how can numerous policy-makers, practitioners, and scholars contend that reconciliation is necessary while it is often distrusted and rejected by victims? Are there not cases where calls for reconciliation would prove to be fruitless and even detrimental for peace and/or democracy? To answer these questions, it is worth looking at the interactions between reconciliation and negotiation. Beyond a theoretical interest, this question has a direct impact for practitioners; a better understanding of the issue is actually a sine qua non condition for more efficient interventions. In terms of methodology, this study refers to various examples as illustrative cases (Afghanistan, Rwanda, South-Africa, and the Franco-German case). Its objective is not to capture the complexity of each case study but to determine to what extent reconciliation can be considered as negotiable.

The interplay between collective memory and the erosion of nation states – the paradigmatic case of Belgium: Introduction to the special issue

The main goal of the special issue on ‘the interplay between collective memory and the erosion of nation states: The paradigmatic case of Belgium’ is to examine the erosion of the Belgian State as an exemplary illustration of the way memories of past events can influence current attitudes, emotions, representations and behaviours. We believe that the recent political crisis in Belgium, with no government for more than one year after the 2010 general elections, could be partly illuminated by the diverging and sometimes contradictory memories each linguistic group (Dutch- vs. French-speakers) in Belgium holds about the past. These issues will be examined through different disciplines from the social sciences and humanities: social psychology, history, psychoanalysis, political sciences, and literature.

Looking forward to the past: An interdisciplinary discussion on the use of historical analogies and their effects:

“This is Munich all over again!”: Such comparisons between a present situation and a past one (i.e. a historical analogy) are common in public and political discourses. Historical analogies were used for centuries but have received increased interest in the last 50 years from scholars in political science, history, and psychology. Despite existing interdisciplinary exchanges, it remains difficult to identify the variables involved in the phenomenon as different methodologies and conceptualizations are used. Hence, we review part of this voluminous literature and suggest that the various effects related to the use of historical analogies can be grouped under four independent and non-mutually exclusive categories: representing a current situation, defining the roles of current actors, making decisions, and persuading others of a message. We conclude by acknowledging the limits of this current conceptualization and emphasizing its potential as a useful heuristic tool to organize findings in a way that makes them readable across various fields.

Portée et limites du concept de réconciliation Une histoire à terminer

What is the scope of post-war calls for reconciliation? What does the “policy of reconciliation” advocated by authorities stipulate? It is worthwhile inquiring into a concept that turns out to be more ambivalent than at first sight. First of all, a panorama of various theoretical approaches to reconciliation is sketched that places practitioners and researchers on a continuum ranging from a minimalist approach that considers reconciliation as a mutual arrangement between former enemies to a maximalist one that defines reconciliation as a transcendental process involving truth, justice and forgiveness. Focus then shifts to EU ambitions and an explanation of how reconciliation evokes either the origin of the joint adventure or an objective to be tirelessly pursued. The third part of this article questions the premises underlying these actions.

The Causal Pattern of Collective Memory in a Community Conflict: “Constant Causes” in the Belgium Case

Although it has been clearly established that collective memory is a potential source of ethnic conflicts, it remains to clearly formulate the causal pattern under which the past becomes an agent of action. Following Arthur Stinthcombes differentiation between “historical causes” and “constant causes,” this article analyzes collective memory in the Belgian case as a “constant cause.” In Belgium, the community conflict surrounding the increasing autonomy of Flanders and Wallonia is characterized by discourses featuring various historical representations of linguistic grievances. Analysis suggests that these representations, estimated to be the mainspring of Flemish autonomist claims, are mobilized under a causal pattern of symbolic reactivation and cognitive continuance of past linguistic injustices.

The Belgian national past: Between commemoration and silence

This article examines the gradual deconstruction of the Belgian national identity. Is it possible to speak of a de facto differentiation or even ‘federalization’ of the so-called ‘national past’ in Belgium? How do Belgians choose to remember and forget this past? To contribute to an understanding of these issues, the article considers two very different episodes of Belgian history, namely the First World War and the colonization of the Congo. On the one hand, the memory of the First World War appears to provide the template for memory conflicts in Belgium, and thus informs the memories of other tragedies such as the Second World War. On the other hand, the memory of the colonial past remains much more consensual – providing a more nuanced picture of competing views on the past. Beyond the differences between the ways in which these episodes are officially portrayed, the same fundamental trend may be observed: the gradual fragmentation of a supposedly smooth and reliable national version of history.

Reconciliation as a Puzzle: Walking Among Definitions

Since the end of the Cold War, more and more specialists in history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, criminology, international relations and political science consider reconciliation as a relevant concept in their field. However, this increasing interest does not necessarily favour a clearer picture of the phenomenon. A certain conceptual vagueness forces us to raise a basic question to avoid any confusion: what are we talking about when we talk about reconciliation? This chapter presents three main approaches to political reconciliation: structural, psycho-social and spiritual.

Introduction: Negotiating Perilous Relations: Quandaries of Reconciliation

In the context of an avalanche of texts on the subject of reconciliation, this book gives specific attention to it as a negotiated process. To do so, it gathers contributions from both scholars and practitioners across nations in different conflict contexts. The purpose is exploratory and pragmatic rather than normative or prescriptive. Those involved in peacemaking processes must often deal with complex scenarios in which the word ‘reconciliation’ may carry quite diverse expectations across stakeholder groups. In short its practical application requires negotiation. Our focus is on societal rather than individual reconciliation processes. In this introductory chapter we consider the notion of reconciliation, and raise the questions that helped guide the work of contributors.

Rwanda: The Limits of a Negotiated Justice

As is true for all the cases presented here, the story of Rwanda helps understand the extent to which so-called reconciliation policies can be negotiated. The case of Rwanda, however, is emblematic. The horrific crimes committed force us to consider what happens when countless atrocities are perpetrated on civilians. This example illustrates not just the effects of genocide, but also the impact of civil war and the legacy of colonialism. The context is, then, a complex one, resulting from colonial violence, war and genocidal violence. There are many layers to this tragic account, all of which form part of the country’s history. These multiple forms of violence (colonialism, civil wars, genocide) are reflected in changing, and sometimes co-existing, attitudes towards “others”—those from different communities—in Rwanda. These “others” were seen, in turn, as children to be educated, enemies to be defeated, traitors to be punished, and insects (“cockroaches”) to be slaughtered. How could they again, then, come to be seen as neighbours in a shared struggle for survival, fellow countrymen, with whom it would be possible to live together in peace?