This groundbreaking book examines how collective memory shapes political power after mass violence, revealing no universal memory narrative guarantees authority. Through field research in Cambodia, Rwanda, and Indonesia, it demonstrates how attributed rolesperpetrator, victim, herodirectly constitute political legitimacy. The author's compelling, timely argument extends beyond these case studies, inviting scholars to critically explore how political actors across various post-conflict societies strategically utilize violent pasts to legitimize present power arrangements. Andrea Peto, Central European University This is a must read book to understand the complexities of memory politics across diverse post-conflict contexts revealing how the past is shaped by power dynamics and how the past in turn shapes power. David Mwambari, Author of Navigating Cultural Memory: Commemoration and Narrative in Postgenocide Rwanda
