Public event on the political power of historical remembrance
In an era characterised by political turmoil, social polarisation and unrest, the question of how to engage ethically with the past is becoming increasingly urgent. Representatives from politics, the media and academia must consider the political impact of historical events and how they may be exploited. This includes questions of how to address historical injustices and the challenge of presenting history in multicultural societies.
The ethical dimension of commemoration is intertwined with the preservation of democratic values. By honouring past generations, democracies can reaffirm their commitment to upholding democratic principles. Conversely, the manipulation of history and the erasure of inconvenient truths can undermine democratic foundations and facilitate the rise of autocratic rule. At an event on 13 November 2024 (starting at 6:45 p.m., event will be held in German), we will attempt to find answers to the question of how to navigate the ethical complexities of memory in contexts where democracy is under pressure and authoritarian rule is on the rise.
In addition, the key findings of a ZOiS report published at the beginning of November will be presented. The report analyses the latest survey data from Germany with a focus on the population with a Russian background. It focuses on political and social opinions as well as views on history.
Participants
- Eva-Clarita Pettai, European Academy Schleswig-Holstein at the Academy Centre Sankelmark
- Hans Gutbrod, Ilia State University Tbilisi
- Natalie Pawlik, Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities and Member of the German Bundestag
- Moderation: Hakob Matevosyan, Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS), postdoc in the MoveMeRU project
Find out more about the event here.