Ricerc@Sapienza

The paper's aims are threefold. First, it aims to disentangle social denial of in-group responsibilities for intergroup violence from other types of silence about intergroup violence. Secondly, it argues that intergenerational narratives which omit information about in-group responsibilities for violence that occurred before the birth of younger generations are highly risky to the descendants of perpetrators. Finally, the paper emphasizes the importance of exploring in greater depth the understudied moment when a literal social denial about past in-group war crimes is exposed.

This chapter has three aims. First, it aims to disentangle social denial of in-group responsibilities for intergroup violence from other types of silence about intergroup violence. Secondly, it argues that intergenerational narratives which omit information about in-group responsibilities for violence that occurred before the birth of younger generations are highly risky to the descendants of perpetrators. Finally, it emphasises the importance of exploring in greater depth the understudied moment when a literal social denial about past in-group war crimes is exposed.

The aim of this chapter is to discuss social and psychological theories exploring the role played by intergenerational narratives in the processes of intergroup reconciliation. Apart from their differences, all theories reviewed deal with the issue of if and how the old generation presents young members of a community, born after the end of extreme violent episodes or wars, with this controversial past of their group.