Power, Freedom and the Censorship of History

Abstract

This essay analyzes the relationship between power, freedom, and history. It concentrates on the theoretical problems generated by the censorship of history and the justifications and effects of that censorship in contemporary political settings (dictatorship, post-conflict society, and democracy). In order to define the censorship of history, borderline areas and demarcations with closely related concepts are surveyed. The presence of censorship in different modes, genres, fields, categories, eras, and countries is briefly discussed. The final analysis addresses the relationship between censorship and epistemology, historical awareness and ethics.