In Holocaust Consciousness and Cold War Violence in Latin America (SUNY, 2022) Estelle Tarica (Spanish & Portuguese) proposes the existence of a recognizably distinct Holocaust consciousness in Latin America since the 1970s. Community leaders, intellectuals, writers, and political activists facing state repression have seen themselves reflected in Holocaust histories and have used Holocaust terms to describe human rights atrocities in their own countries. In so doing, they have developed a unique, controversial approach to the memory of the Holocaust that is little known outside the region. 

Tarica deepens our understanding of Holocaust awareness in a global context by examining diverse Jewish and non-Jewish voices, focusing on Argentina, Mexico, and Guatemala. What happens, she asks, when we find the Holocaust invoked in unexpected places and in relation to other events, such as the Argentine "Dirty War" or the Mayan genocide in Guatemala? The book draws together two areas that have rarely been brought into contact — Holocaust studies and Latin American studies — and aims to illuminate the topic for readers who may be new to the fields.

Tarica is joined by Debarati Sanyal (French). After a brief discussion, they respond to questions from the audience.