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The Condor Trials: Transnational Repression and Human Rights in South America
Stories of transnational terror and justice illuminate the past and present of South America’s struggles for human rights
“Outstanding. . . . An Olympian view of the Condor system.”—Philip Chrimes, International Affairs
Through the voices of survivors and witnesses, human rights activists, judicial actors, journalists, and historians, Francesca Lessa unravels the secrets of transnational repression masterminded by South American dictators between 1969 and 1981. Under Operation Condor, their violent and oppressive regimes kidnapped, tortured, and murdered hundreds of exiles, or forcibly returned them to the countries from which they had fled. South America became a zone of terror for those who were targeted, and of impunity for those who perpetuated the violence.
Lessa shows how networks of justice seekers gradually materialized and effectively transcended national borders to achieve justice for the victims of these horrors. Based on extensive fieldwork, archival research, trial ethnography, and over one hundred interviews, The Condor Trials explores South America’s past and present and sheds light on ongoing struggles for justice as its societies come to terms with the unparalleled atrocities of their not-so-distant pasts.
“Outstanding. . . . An Olympian view of the Condor system.”—Philip Chrimes, International Affairs
Through the voices of survivors and witnesses, human rights activists, judicial actors, journalists, and historians, Francesca Lessa unravels the secrets of transnational repression masterminded by South American dictators between 1969 and 1981. Under Operation Condor, their violent and oppressive regimes kidnapped, tortured, and murdered hundreds of exiles, or forcibly returned them to the countries from which they had fled. South America became a zone of terror for those who were targeted, and of impunity for those who perpetuated the violence.
Lessa shows how networks of justice seekers gradually materialized and effectively transcended national borders to achieve justice for the victims of these horrors. Based on extensive fieldwork, archival research, trial ethnography, and over one hundred interviews, The Condor Trials explores South America’s past and present and sheds light on ongoing struggles for justice as its societies come to terms with the unparalleled atrocities of their not-so-distant pasts.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 7, 2025
Really good and thorough exploration of Condor, and the following search for justice.
Actually quite readable, and incredibly well researched, though this works against it too sometimes. It’s hard to keep up with the amount of individual cases referenced - I enjoyed cases that were explored for longer, as I felt I could understand, and remember them. This being said, it’s not important to know and remember all the victims/perpetrators, the central messages still get through.
Also loved the abbreviations index, and English/spanish translations for epigraphs - made the book accessible, and yet true to its Latin American/academic background.
The transnational justice half of the book was also way more enjoyable and interesting than I thought it would be - Lessa’s clear expertise and enthusiasm bring light to what could otherwise have been a dull or complex section.
Foregrounding individual justice seekers was an interesting choice by Lessa. While I'd argue institutions are more important in promoting justice, individual victims'/activists' contributions to justice are absolutely heroic, and deserve more credit and academic coverage.
My only issue with the book is it's narrow scope of justice. Lessa doesn't acknowledge the barriers that judicial justice is behind for many, or the fact that many victims of state oppression are unlikely to trust the same state institutions to get justice. Similarly, she fails to account for the potential of monuments, truth and reconciliation commissions, and social programs to account for alternate forms of justice (see Tyler Goldberg's review: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showpdf...)
Overall though, outstandingly well researched, and an important piece of work given the continuing legacy of Condor, and wider human rights abuses in the region.
Actually quite readable, and incredibly well researched, though this works against it too sometimes. It’s hard to keep up with the amount of individual cases referenced - I enjoyed cases that were explored for longer, as I felt I could understand, and remember them. This being said, it’s not important to know and remember all the victims/perpetrators, the central messages still get through.
Also loved the abbreviations index, and English/spanish translations for epigraphs - made the book accessible, and yet true to its Latin American/academic background.
The transnational justice half of the book was also way more enjoyable and interesting than I thought it would be - Lessa’s clear expertise and enthusiasm bring light to what could otherwise have been a dull or complex section.
Foregrounding individual justice seekers was an interesting choice by Lessa. While I'd argue institutions are more important in promoting justice, individual victims'/activists' contributions to justice are absolutely heroic, and deserve more credit and academic coverage.
My only issue with the book is it's narrow scope of justice. Lessa doesn't acknowledge the barriers that judicial justice is behind for many, or the fact that many victims of state oppression are unlikely to trust the same state institutions to get justice. Similarly, she fails to account for the potential of monuments, truth and reconciliation commissions, and social programs to account for alternate forms of justice (see Tyler Goldberg's review: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showpdf...)
Overall though, outstandingly well researched, and an important piece of work given the continuing legacy of Condor, and wider human rights abuses in the region.
January 19, 2023
The research Francesca Lessa did for the book is breathtaking. Not only did she dig into archives, but she also attended 74 Condor trial proceedings, including in Italy. I don't know of a book like it in terms of the analytical framework, depth, and scope. It should be a transformational book in understanding how justice for epic human rights crimes works. The scholarship is impeccable and the book is movingly written. It adds something powerful, deeply researched, well-written, and important to the study and practice of human rights.
Lessa sets up the book in a clean compelling way: the first half on transnational crimes and the second on justice. Again, the research is spectacular on both counts. Much of it is familiar ground but it is important, I think, to review the broad scope of the criminality again, against the backdrop of rising criticism of human rights as out of date and ineffective. Lessa’s book demonstrates that yes, human rights action was largely ineffective in stopping repression as it happened; but the web-like system of justice, from the domestic to regional and international, has been delivering accountability on an unprecedented scale. This is a largely untold and poorly understood success story (Kathryn Sikkink has written about this but in a more distant way). This book focuses on the transnational crime, repression, and transnational justice systems that have characterized political violence in Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile. I liked that she emphasizes that this goes beyond the three countries and the story is deeply intertwined. She cites the fact that international terror networks have proven a precedent for some of the advances in this issue. She deftly brings in other literature and sites us convincingly in this complex issue.
Lessa really brings the goods in terms of specifics and telling the broader story. The data analysis is compelling while also being specialized. Certainly, this isn’t a pleasant read! But it is comprehensive and unique. The author herself received death threats.
Lessa sets up the book in a clean compelling way: the first half on transnational crimes and the second on justice. Again, the research is spectacular on both counts. Much of it is familiar ground but it is important, I think, to review the broad scope of the criminality again, against the backdrop of rising criticism of human rights as out of date and ineffective. Lessa’s book demonstrates that yes, human rights action was largely ineffective in stopping repression as it happened; but the web-like system of justice, from the domestic to regional and international, has been delivering accountability on an unprecedented scale. This is a largely untold and poorly understood success story (Kathryn Sikkink has written about this but in a more distant way). This book focuses on the transnational crime, repression, and transnational justice systems that have characterized political violence in Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile. I liked that she emphasizes that this goes beyond the three countries and the story is deeply intertwined. She cites the fact that international terror networks have proven a precedent for some of the advances in this issue. She deftly brings in other literature and sites us convincingly in this complex issue.
Lessa really brings the goods in terms of specifics and telling the broader story. The data analysis is compelling while also being specialized. Certainly, this isn’t a pleasant read! But it is comprehensive and unique. The author herself received death threats.
May 27, 2025
Detailed account of the eventual prosecution of the members of the intelligence apparatuses in Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru who conspired in a transnational criminal conspiracy to abduct, torture, and murder political dissens throughout South America. The first half of the book reveals the nature of the conspiracy. The second half of the book highlights the legal creativity that led to prosecutions in Argentina and Italy of men who enjoyed impunity for too long. I am suggesting this book to my sophomores who are preparing for their final on Latin America
February 14, 2023
Un panorama muy general
El libro entrega una aproximación muy general al sistema de represión llamado cóndor. Es un primer acercamiento, pero q permite asentar la coordinación de los estados miembros para la represión y eliminación de oponentes dentro y fuera de sus fronteras.
El libro entrega una aproximación muy general al sistema de represión llamado cóndor. Es un primer acercamiento, pero q permite asentar la coordinación de los estados miembros para la represión y eliminación de oponentes dentro y fuera de sus fronteras.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews