This cogent book examines the tragic development and ultimate resolution of Latin America's human rights crisis of the 1970s and 1980s. Thomas Wright focuses especially on state terrorism in Chile under General Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and in Argentina during the Dirty War (1976-1983). He offers a nuanced exploration of the reciprocal relationship between Argentina and Chile and human rights movements, clearly demonstrating how state terrorism in these countries strengthened the international human rights lobby and how, in turn, that more powerful lobby ultimately helped bring repressors to justice. These intertwined themes make this book important reading not only for Latin Americanists but for students of human rights and international relations as well.
Introduction
Part I: Human Rights, State Terrorism, and Latin America
Chapter 1: The Human Rights Revolution
Chapter 2: The Latin American Human Rights Crisis
Part II: The Dirty Wars
Chapter 3: Chile under State Terrorism
Chapter 4: The Dirty War in Argentina
Part III: Justice versus Impunity
Chapter 5: Argentina: The Sinuous Path of Transitional Justice
Chapter 6: Chile: Impunity, Truth, and Justice in a Protected Democracy
Conclusion: Chile, Argentina, and International Human Rights