In contemporary society, the notions of historical memory, conflict and peace have been the terrain of confrontation and dispute where different actors have sought to impose a version of the events that occurred within the armed conflict. Diverse narratives circulate across different settings, ranging from institutional to alternative spaces; that is, from the plurality of narratives and diversity of perspectives, a confrontation among various sectors and actors has emerged. This symposium aims to analyze the disputes over narratives of memory, conflict and peace, with the purpose of opening reflection and analysis on trends regarding the types of narratives currently circulating.
The disputes over the notion of memory and the function it plays in peacebuilding processes reveal a deeper confrontation, related to a narrative that seeks to legitimize a version of the past centered on power, and an alternative version that aims to be inclusive and critical of that power. Other types of narratives tend to complement both the institutional and the alternative. This is reflected in the discourses and rhetoric present in the State, political parties, social collectives, victims’ organizations, among others, which express, in everyday ideological, cultural and social terms, their perspective on memory. This symposium seeks to account for this process, bringing together a reflection that is necessary for the current context.
