Truth commissions are usually formed to examine a country’s history, bringing to light the good, the bad and the ugly.
But, history belongs to the victors. Truth commissions can also be used to forward a particular political stance. In our weekly theme, “The Truth About ‘Truth’ Commissions, Ariel Cohen examines the new Russian ‘Truth’ Commission with a critical eye, stating that it has been intentionally designed to stop the pieces of history that would damage the carefully crafted image of today’s Russia from coming to the surface.
The ISN’s Linda Popova gives background information on truth commissions and offers evidence that bureaucracy can hinder even the most earnest attempts at finding the ‘truth.’
- In our Digital Library, the latest Caucasus Analytical Digest, Writing National Histories: Coming to Terms with the Past looks at how states in the Caucasus approach their history
- The Politicisation of History in the Russian Federation examines the Putin-Medvedev government’s role in the politicization of history in Russia.
- In our Links Library we’re highlighting Amnesty International’s Checklist for the Establishment of an Effective Truth Commission
And as always, check our site throughout the week for more on the topic.