Harvard University Holds "The Case for the Establishment of Truth Commissions in Europe" Seminar

It will feature speaker Thomas Weber, Professor of History and International Affairs and Director, Centre for Global Security and Governance, University of Aberdeen; Visiting Scholar, Center for European Studies, Harvard University. The discussion is scheduled between 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the CGIS Knafel Building, 1737 Cambridge Street, Room K354.

The Harvard University seminar's abstract states, "This talk makes the case for the establishment of Truth Commissions in Europe to deal with the darkest chapters of the continent's living past. In the case of Holocaust-era crimes, Weber argues that Truth Commissions would serve the cause of Holocaust education and the historical record far better than court cases where aging death camp guards brought in on stretchers stand a too-high chance of acquittal. Even though dealing with WWII-era crimes is most pressing due to the very advanced age of its perpetrators, victims, and bystander, the talk argues that it is high time Europe and the states of the Mediterranean Basin consider how they can learn from the example of truth commissions in the rest of the world for how best to deal with all the dark chapters of the region's recent past."

Professor Panagiotis Roilos has organized the event, and serves as the George Seferis Professor of Modern Greek Studies; Professor of Comparative Literature, Department of the Classics, at the Ivy League University. For more information, please contact Professor Roilos at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.