Civil Society and Atrocity Prevention: The Reform of Education about a Recent Past

The article examines the links between civil society and atrocity prevention by unpacking the role of civil society in advancing the reform of education about a recent past in countries that have suffered armed conflict or authoritarian rule. It argues that while there is a considerable potential for civil society to play an important role in history education in postconflict and post-authoritarian contexts, this role is under-theorized and raises important conceptual and practical challenges that need to be addressed. The incorporation of a past of violations in educational materials is important to show a State acknowledges and recognizes the suffering of citizens pertaining to a certain social groups or ethnic minorities. History education has the potential to become a tool to transform the relationships among citizens from different groups. Despite the values of history teaching, states practices do not necessarily reveal a history curriculum that incorporates past human rights violations. It is in this context that initiatives from civil society organizations to promote the reform of education about a recent past can contribute to prevent future violations. If they are to do so, they need to address three important issues: how civil society can navigate the relationship between history and power; how appropriate forms of participation and representation can be ensured; and how the relationship between history, peace and justice, and the role that education can play within this, should be understood.