Author Description

"This book is indispensible for understanding how Latin American evolved from a region of dictatorships, gross human rights violations, and rampant impunity to one defined by greater accountability and the rule of law. Collins goes beyond analyzing the transitional justice models of the 1980's and provides a comprehensive overview of the actors, strategies, and institutions that led to the emergence of 'post-transitional accountability trajectories.' Collins's framework will undoubtedly be useful to study and advise other countries that are undergoing similar transitions."-JosT Miguel Vivanco, Human Rights Watch" "Cath Collins provides an in-depth study of the struggle to obtain justice for human rights violations in two countries that have adopted very different strategies, both during conflicts and after transition. The comparison demonstrates the importance of domestic efforts, carried out by local actors, in advancing the cause of justice. By analyzing the efforts made in both countries over a substantial period of time, Collins provides evidence not only of the difficulties faced in obtaining justice for past violations committed by regimes that retain power and influence after they leave office, but also of the ways in which many of those obstacles can eventually be overcome. This book is a significant contribution toward understanding these struggles in El Salvador and Chile, but it also provides important lessons applicable to other countries facing similar challenges."-Cristib9sn Correa, Senior Associate, International Center for Transitional Justice" "Cath Collins has written a meticulous and balanced study of the internal and external factors that lead to changes in the judiciary's attitude towards prosecuting human rights-related crimes, especially those, of the powerful...Collins looks carefully and deeply at the trends within Chile that ripened up space for investigations and eventually prosecutions of military officers. She makes room for external