LFU:online

After successfully completing the course, students are familiar with selected theories and methodologies of studying memory politics and commemorative culture and apply them to case studies. They are familiar with interdisciplinary theoretical concepts like memory, coloniality and decolonization and they can evaluate the role of memory institutions like museums, memorials and education system in the construction and dissemination of historical memory in case studies. They have gained a critical awareness in studying processes of construction continuities, of nationalization and Europeanization. Students are furthermore able to question assumptions and identify relevant contexts and they can identify their own and others' assumptions and relevant contexts when presenting a position. Through the comparative perspective, they expand their empathy skills, learn about cultural diversity and shifting perspective in understanding European and global issues.

The non-subject related learning outcomes have been formulated in accordance with the Aurora Competence Framework (LOUIS), which is based on the VALUE rubrics developed by the AAC&U.

European memory politics and commemorative culture present a complex tapestry of narratives, identities, and historical interpretations that reflect the continent's tumultuous past and diverse present. From the scars of World War II to the fall of the Iron Curtain, Europe grapples with memory in a myriad of ways, shaped by national interests, collective traumas, and evolving transnational dynamics. We aim to shed light on these complexities of memory politics with a comparative perspective, revealing both commonalities and unique challenges within different European societies.

At the heart of memory politics in Europe lies the tension between remembering and forgetting, between confronting painful histories and constructing national narratives. The legacy of World War II looms large, with countries like Germany and Austria engaging in Vergangenheitsbewältigung, or coming to terms with the past, through education, memorials, and legal accountability for Nazi crimes. However, the memory of the Holocaust is not homogenous, as debates persist over the extent of culpability and the representation of victimhood. Similarly, in Eastern Europe, memory politics intersect with post-Soviet transitions, as countries reckon with the legacies of communist rule. The memory of state-sponsored violence, censorship, and repression remains contested terrain, with divergent narratives emerging in countries like Poland, Hungary, and the Baltic states. Here, memory serves as a battleground for political agendas, as populist leaders manipulate historical narratives to legitimize their power and stoke nationalist sentiments.

Transnational memory also plays a significant role in shaping Europe's collective consciousness, particularly through supranational institutions like the European Union. Initiatives such as the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism aim to foster a shared memory of totalitarian regimes, yet they also highlight the challenges of reconciling diverse national experiences within a common framework. Moreover, the EU's enlargement process raises questions about whose memories are included and whose are excluded. Beyond state-led initiatives, memory culture in Europe is also shaped by grassroots movements, civil society organizations, and cultural productions. Memorials, museums, and commemorative events serve as sites of memory, where collective identities are constructed and contested. Moreover, the rise of populism and authoritarianism in some European countries poses a threat to democratic memory culture, as governments seek to instrumentalize the past for present-day agendas. A comparative perspective reveals the diverse ways in which European countries remember and forget their pasts, reflecting the interplay of national, transnational, and local dynamics.

lectures by faculty from Aurora universities, group discussions in breakout-rooms

Written essay (in English) in the last week of the semester discussing examples from the lectures

Müller, Jan (ed.) (2002): Memory and Power in Post-War Europe: Studies in the Presence of the Past. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.

Pakier, Małgorzata, and Bo Stråth (eds.) (2010). A European Memory: Contested Histories and Politics of Remembrance. NED-New edition, 1. New York: Berghahn Books. OA http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt9qd3kh.

Whitehead, Christopher, Susannah Eckersley, Mads Daugbjerg and Gönül Bozoğlu (eds.) (2019). Dimensions of Heritage and Memory. Multiple Europes and the Politics of Crisis. London and New York: Routledge. OA.

Students of all Aurora universities are invited to apply for participation in this course from June 03 till July 12 at the following link (after this date, registration via the online course catalogue is possible for Innsbruck students): https://www.uibk.ac.at/en/international/aurora/aurora-course-offerings/universitat-innsbruck/

This is an Aurora lecture series with lecturers from European universities. This course also qualifies within the areas of specialization for the Aurora Joint Educational Program "Understanding Europe".

The course will be taught in English, the exam is also in English.

Students of all Aurora universities are invited to apply for participation in this course from June 03 till July 12 at the following link (after this date, registration via the online course catalogue is possible for Innsbruck students): https://www.uibk.ac.at/en/international/aurora/aurora-course-offerings/universitat-innsbruck/