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Inheriting “Difficult Histories” : National Identities, Memory Debates and Cultural Diversity

Jordan, Peter LU orcid (2023) In Indigenous Studies and Cultural Diversity 1(1). p.6-37
Abstract
For some reason, modern European nations have traditionally presented themselves as having a lot of rich and important history, much of it portrayed as being “international” in terms of cultural impact and wider global significance. Today, much of this history appears to be far more controversial than many comfortable national-popular narratives have acknowledged. This article explores how Europe is increasingly being forced to confront more negative and painful dimensions to its past; this involves deeper societal engagement with entangled legacies that are best defined as “difficult histories”. The Netherlands is presented as a central case-study, which explores how two difficult chapters in national history are caught up in debates... (More)
For some reason, modern European nations have traditionally presented themselves as having a lot of rich and important history, much of it portrayed as being “international” in terms of cultural impact and wider global significance. Today, much of this history appears to be far more controversial than many comfortable national-popular narratives have acknowledged. This article explores how Europe is increasingly being forced to confront more negative and painful dimensions to its past; this involves deeper societal engagement with entangled legacies that are best defined as “difficult histories”. The Netherlands is presented as a central case-study, which explores how two difficult chapters in national history are caught up in debates about memory, commemoration, national identity and new forms of cultural diversity. The overarching goal of the paper is to stimulate deeper reflection on the challenges and opportunities generated by renewed engagement with the kinds of complex historical legacies that are shared, in one form or another, by all nations of the world. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Memory, Identity, Indigenous, Ethnic, Nationalism, Colonialism, Slavery, Netherlands, Occupation, Dutch Golden Age
in
Indigenous Studies and Cultural Diversity
volume
1
issue
1
pages
32 pages
ISSN
2758-1012
DOI
10.57519/iscd.00001
project
"Difficult Histories": Assembling Forgotten Times
Global Station for Indigenous Studies and Cultural Diversity
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7fb3e3e3-4a16-4cd4-b590-d106d8426ca2
date added to LUP
2023-04-14 11:07:21
date last changed
2023-04-18 12:11:06
@article{7fb3e3e3-4a16-4cd4-b590-d106d8426ca2,
  abstract     = {{For some reason, modern European nations have traditionally presented themselves as having a lot of rich and important history, much of it portrayed as being “international” in terms of cultural impact and wider global significance. Today, much of this history appears to be far more controversial than many comfortable national-popular narratives have acknowledged. This article explores how Europe is increasingly being forced to confront more negative and painful dimensions to its past; this involves deeper societal engagement with entangled legacies that are best defined as “difficult histories”. The Netherlands is presented as a central case-study, which explores how two difficult chapters in national history are caught up in debates about memory, commemoration, national identity and new forms of cultural diversity. The overarching goal of the paper is to stimulate deeper reflection on the challenges and opportunities generated by renewed engagement with the kinds of complex historical legacies that are shared, in one form or another, by all nations of the world.}},
  author       = {{Jordan, Peter}},
  issn         = {{2758-1012}},
  keywords     = {{Memory; Identity; Indigenous; Ethnic; Nationalism; Colonialism; Slavery; Netherlands; Occupation; Dutch Golden Age}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{6--37}},
  series       = {{Indigenous Studies and Cultural Diversity}},
  title        = {{Inheriting “Difficult Histories” : National Identities, Memory Debates and Cultural Diversity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.57519/iscd.00001}},
  doi          = {{10.57519/iscd.00001}},
  volume       = {{1}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}