Reconciliation Discourse: The case of the Truth and Reconciliation CommissionThis volume is a research monograph analysing the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) from an ethnographic/linguistic point of view. The central proposition of this book is that the TRC can be regarded as a mechanism that leads to the hegemony of specific discourses, thus excercising power. The analysis illustrates how, through a certain type of reconciliation discourse constructed at the TRC hearings, a reconciliation-oriented reality took shape in post-TRC South Africa. Basically, the study points to the long-term implications a truth commission can exert on a traumatised post-conflict society. The book is unique on several levels: TRC discourse is explored in-depth on the basis of personal stories from TRC testifiers; a combination of Poststructuralist and Critical Discourse Analysis approaches form the theoretical foundations; and an extensive bibliography provides an impressive database of TRC publications. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 70
Page vii
... HRV hearings 21 2.7 Discourse at the HRV hearings 25 CHAPTER 3 The TRC archive 3.1 The 'archive' as a concept 31 3.2 3-3 3-4 3-5 3.6 The material TRC archive 33 3.2.1 Primary data 33 3.2.2 Secondary data 34 The archive in a Foucaultian ...
... HRV hearings 21 2.7 Discourse at the HRV hearings 25 CHAPTER 3 The TRC archive 3.1 The 'archive' as a concept 31 3.2 3-3 3-4 3-5 3.6 The material TRC archive 33 3.2.1 Primary data 33 3.2.2 Secondary data 34 The archive in a Foucaultian ...
Page viii
... HRV discourse: A critical perspective 53 5.1 Introduction 53 5.2 Ideological layering 54 5.2.1 Trying to define ... hearings 141 6.1.1 Introduction 141 6.1.2 Constructing truth through discourse 142 6.1.3 The term 'reconciliation' at the TRC ...
... HRV discourse: A critical perspective 53 5.1 Introduction 53 5.2 Ideological layering 54 5.2.1 Trying to define ... hearings 141 6.1.1 Introduction 141 6.1.2 Constructing truth through discourse 142 6.1.3 The term 'reconciliation' at the TRC ...
Page ix
... HRV hearings 169 7.4 Power exertion yes, but 174 7.5 The TRC and power in society 175 7.6 The historical setting of the TRC process 176 7.7 The TRC as a powerful state institution 177 7.8 The TRC as a political instrument? 178 7.9 TRC ...
... HRV hearings 169 7.4 Power exertion yes, but 174 7.5 The TRC and power in society 175 7.6 The historical setting of the TRC process 176 7.7 The TRC as a powerful state institution 177 7.8 The TRC as a political instrument? 178 7.9 TRC ...
Page 2
... hearings of the HRV Committee; how did this discourse impact on South African society; did this discourse help in establishing a unified nation with reconciliation-oriented citizens; and what lessons can be drawn for other countries ...
... hearings of the HRV Committee; how did this discourse impact on South African society; did this discourse help in establishing a unified nation with reconciliation-oriented citizens; and what lessons can be drawn for other countries ...
Page 3
... HRV hearings was deliberately constructed in a polysemic and vague manner. As a result, the majority of South Africans could relate to the concept of reconciliation, turning it into a highly inclusive term. Because of this vagueness the ...
... HRV hearings was deliberately constructed in a polysemic and vague manner. As a result, the majority of South Africans could relate to the concept of reconciliation, turning it into a highly inclusive term. Because of this vagueness the ...
Contents
1 | |
7 | |
31 | |
4 The sample | 43 |
5 Layering and HRV discour | 53 |
6 Reconciliation discourse truth and society | 141 |
62 A multilayered reconciliation discourse in South African reality | 155 |
7 Exercising power through discourse | 167 |
8 Towards a conclusion | 185 |
References | 193 |
Index | 229 |
The series Discourse Approaches to Politics Society and Culture | 239 |
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Common terms and phrases
a-typical African National Congress Afrikaans Alex Boraine amnesty apartheid past apartheid victims archons audience Bambiso Beck Blommaert Boraine Buthelezi Cape Town code switching concept conflict constructed Critical Discourse Analysis David Philip Publishers defined definitely diflerent Discourse Analysis emotional explicitly expressed final find findings first forgiveness Foucault groups historical HRV Committee HRV discourse HRV hearings Human Rights Violations ideal testifiers identified identity ideology influence institution interpretation Iohannesburg language layering liberation movement linguistic Mandela MANTHATA master narrative national unity Nelson Mandela officials ofthe TRC perpetrators police political Reconciliation Commission reconciliation discourse reconciliation in South reconciliation-oriented Reflections reparations SABC Siko social South Africa South African society specific statements stories stress struggle talk term reconciliation testifying victims testimony tion tortured traumatic TRC Act TRC archive TRC process TRC Report 1998 TRC’s Truth and Reconciliation Truth Commission Tutu ubuntu University Press Villa-Vicencio Whitfield