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Beyond Memory: Can We Really Learn From the Past?
Examines why hate crimes and populism have increased in drastic proportions despite developments in memory policies over the last thirty years
Provides a fresh perspective on the familiar belief in the efficiency of memory policy in building peaceful societies, whether in a stable democracy or in the wake of a violent political conflict
Argues that memory policies are mostly unhelpful in preventing hate, genocide and mass crimes
This book provides a fresh perspective on the familiar belief that memory policies are successful in building peaceful societies. Whether in a stable democracy or in the wake of a violent political conflict, this book argues that memory policies are unhelpful in preventing hate, genocide, and mass crimes. Since the 1990s, transmitting the memory of violent pasts has been utilised in attempts to foster tolerance and fight racism, hate and antisemitism. However, countries that invested in memory policies have overseen the rise of hate crimes and populisms instead of growing social cohesion. Breaking with the usual moralistic position, this book takes stock of this situation. Where do these memory policies come from? Whom do they serve? Can we make them more effective? In other words, can we really learn from the past? At a time when memory studies is blooming, this book questions the normative belief in the effects of memory.
Provides a fresh perspective on the familiar belief in the efficiency of memory policy in building peaceful societies, whether in a stable democracy or in the wake of a violent political conflict
Argues that memory policies are mostly unhelpful in preventing hate, genocide and mass crimes
This book provides a fresh perspective on the familiar belief that memory policies are successful in building peaceful societies. Whether in a stable democracy or in the wake of a violent political conflict, this book argues that memory policies are unhelpful in preventing hate, genocide, and mass crimes. Since the 1990s, transmitting the memory of violent pasts has been utilised in attempts to foster tolerance and fight racism, hate and antisemitism. However, countries that invested in memory policies have overseen the rise of hate crimes and populisms instead of growing social cohesion. Breaking with the usual moralistic position, this book takes stock of this situation. Where do these memory policies come from? Whom do they serve? Can we make them more effective? In other words, can we really learn from the past? At a time when memory studies is blooming, this book questions the normative belief in the effects of memory.
128 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 5, 2023
It gets two stars for a reasonable premise: why are hate crimes and discrimination on the rise with the popularity of historical memory work. The scholarship was slapdash: programs that bring children together across conflicts are a failure because hate crimes are up (are hate crimes up amongst children who received the intervention?); truth and reconciliation is bad because they reduce people to victims (I’ve studied and participated in several and I don’t think that’s how they would be characterized). This was cherry picked examples with little imagination in response to an actually interesting question.
November 24, 2024
« Un gouvernement est d'autant plus bavard qu'il est moins écouté - et le sait. Il est d'autant plus prompt à encadrer la pratique scolaire de l'Histoire qu'il a moins de moyens à lui allouer, d'autant plus décidé à encadrer l'usage poli-lique du passé qu'il veut éviter d'autres débats avec ses opposants, d'autant plus soucieux de rendre hommage à la victime qu'il ne peut lui donner ni réparations ni justice pénale. Les politiques de mémoire sont trop souvent une politique de l'impuissance. »
Conclusion de ce remarquable ouvrage !
Conclusion de ce remarquable ouvrage !
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews