Unspeakable Truths: Confronting State Terror and Atrocity

by Priscilla B. Hayner

This book is a profound exploration of truth commissions around the world, and the anguish, injustice, and the legacy of hate they are meant to absolve. Hayner examines twenty major truth commissions established around the world paying special attention to South Africa, El Salvador, Argentina, Chile, and Guatemala.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Crime, Academic

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2002

Reviews

[Mandy]

Well organized, complex, and extensive. An excellent book to pick up if you're interested in the subject.

[Naomi]

This is a great intro/overview of truth commissions, and somewhat their interaction with other elements of transitional justice. I liked her comparative framework, as too often truth commission studies focus on the "successful" examples, and Hayner also provided examples of what can go wrong and what it looks like when conflicts end without truth telling. Recommended for anyone unfamiliar with the field. Read for grad school.

[Brandy]

Read this for a grad school class.
This book was very well researched and written and at times is incredibly dense due to the amount of detail. Very God for anyone interested in truth commissions in general or one of the commissions specifically. It's only getting three stars from me because it is heavily policy/procedure focused, which is great, just not my cup of tea.

[Renée Wyman]

A thoughtful and comprehensive dive into modern-era truth commissions. It balances well the needs of survivors with pragmatic policy concerns, and entertains difficult questions useful to anyone determining the needs of a transitional justice system. Over all a must-read.

[Amy]

well planned, executed and organized. still not entirely sure what my own verdict is on truth commissions, but Hayner provided a good deal of new information regarding the topic.

[José]

Ayuda a entender el trabajo y las complicaciones de las comisiones de la verdad.

[Laura]

A relatively clear synopsis of truth commissions around the world.

[Linda]

Excellent review of the history of truth commissions.

[Aditya Adhikari]

A comprehensive and useful overview of experiences in transitional justice over recent decades, though analytically weak.

[Christopher]

Essential if you want to be informed about a complex world.