Apuntes para una historia conceptual de los violadores de derechos humanos de la dictadura cívico-militar en Chile: Del ‘torturador’ al ‘perpetrador’

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the portrayal of the category of “perpetrator” in contemporary academic literature in Chile concerning the military dictatorship. Applying the theoretical framework of the history of concepts, this paper delves beyond the mere linguistic analysis and considers the relationship between concepts and their circumstances. Our hypothesis is that the concept of “perpetrator” in Chile has followed an evolution similar to that experienced by this notion in the international literature, beginning with definitions about the “agent” to later reach more complex delimitations, from relational order, in which approaches based on cultural memory stand out. Specifically, the study begins with an in-depth analysis of the main publications that address perpetrators in Chile. These publications are organized based on their production context, providing a comprehensive understanding of the diverse perspectives surrounding this issue. Finally, this paper concludes with a reflection on the possible discussions on perpetrators that could be enriched by commemorating the 50th anniversary of the military coup in Chile.