In Europe, debates over collective memories of 20th-century traumas (e.g. the World Wars, fascism, the Holocaust, colonialism, and the legacy of communism and Cold War divide) and populists’ appeals to ‘the people’ have challenged Europe’s democratic culture and project of integration.
In Canada, the process of Indigenous reconciliation and truth-telling has brought questions of collective memory and public history to the forefront of contemporary political debate. Now, more than ever, Canadians are left to confront disparities between national mythologies (e.g. being a tolerant, welcoming people) and realities of genocide, historical injustices, and continuing harm.
Through talks, research, teaching materials, and an expert database, we hope to contribute to these critical scholarly and public debates on memory politics.
As a group of scholars working on memory politics at the University of Victoria (UVIc), we acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. See UVIc’s Territory Acknowledgment.
Bringing together scholars from Canada and European countries, the European Memory Politics (EuMePo) network explores how the 20th century’s past is (re)interpreted, commemorated, and narrativized in contemporary political life.
Objectives: Produce and publish innovative, scholarly research on issues related to memory politics in Europe./ Connect with students, scholars, and practitioners over questions emerging from shared interests in political contestations and narrativizations of memory, identity, and community/ Build a transatlantic, interdisciplinary network of scholars contributing to critical conversations on memory politics.
Key Questions: How are the memories of Europe’s collective traumas mobilized and (re)interpreted by political actors?/ What is at stake in the populist ‘re-nationalization’ of memory?/ How do states address past injustices through the politics of apology, state inquiries, and historical excavations?
Projects in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Canada
Our directory showcases a vibrant community of people with expertise and experience in this growing field. This comprehensive database—searchable by discipline, area, professional status, and the thematic fields most relevant to Memory Politics—features the profiles of scholars, practitioners, former diplomats, policy makers, and project partners.
Our education and public outreach initiatives are oriented towards creating and sustaining conversations assessing the role of memory politics in political life today. In providing hands-on learning opportunities for students, we look to curate and support the creation of undergraduate courses, the development of educational resources, and the success of field schools.
Please feel welcome to connect with us to discuss opportunities to get involved in these public education and outreach projects.
We invite students to conduct research and partner with the project.
We encourage undergraduate and graduate students to participate in innovative field schools in Europe and Canada
We explore exciting possibilities for hands-on learning in a dynamic school environment.
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