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Digging in the Archives: The Promise and Perils of Primary Documents

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  • Michele Leiby

    (Department of Political Science at the University of New Mexico, mleiby@unm.edu)

Abstract

This article explores the methodological obstacles to research on wartime sexual violence and the extent to which they can be overcome with archival research. It discusses issues of concept formation, counting victims of human rights abuse, and coding violations. It compares figures from the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report, an analysis of the Commission's published materials, and an analysis of the primary documents and finds that (1) the number of reported cases of sexual violence is significantly higher than the 538 cited by the Commission, (2) men were more often the targets of sexual violence than previously thought, and (3) sexual humiliation and sexual torture were common practices during the war.

Suggested Citation

  • Michele Leiby, 2009. "Digging in the Archives: The Promise and Perils of Primary Documents," Politics & Society, , vol. 37(1), pages 75-99, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:polsoc:v:37:y:2009:i:1:p:75-99
    DOI: 10.1177/0032329208329754
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pedersen, Duncan & Tremblay, Jacques & Errázuriz, Consuelo & Gamarra, Jeffrey, 2008. "The sequelae of political violence: Assessing trauma, suffering and dislocation in the Peruvian highlands," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 205-217, July.
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    Keywords

    sexual violence; rape; war; archives; Peru;
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