The Brazilian National Truth Commission (2012–2014) as a State-Commissioned History Project

Kurzfassung/Abstract

This chapter seeks to challenge accepted concepts and assumptions about state-commissioned history by analyzing the Brazilian National Truth Commission (2012–2014). Rather than conceiving of such a project as an isolated and fully state-controlled top-down undertaking, it considers the impact of civil-society actors including the unprecedented development of dozens of parallel “local commissions”. It, moreover, proposes a nuanced understanding of the “state” as a manifold rather than monolithic institution, composed of officials with varying and competing political views. Although some state agents supported the truth commission, others refused to cooperate. The Brazilian National Truth Commission and its report—one example of state-commissioned history—resulted from a complex and dynamic process of negotiation that involved diverse state officials, local commissions, and civil society actors.