European Observatory on Memories:
Europe has a plurality of memories that shape our current democratic system and its present socio-political map. These various memories are different and the best way to analyze, manage and spread them is through a transnational work. This work should be developed from the analysis and the study of commemorative initiatives, but also the analysis of silences and omissions. The study of the politics of memory in the twenty-first century must therefore be made from a transnational perspective. It is this challenge that requires us to create a solid network of partners with permanent and professional commitments.
Europe has entered the twenty-first century with a strong recent history, marked by the catastrophes. It is no surprising that the twenty-first century began with a “memorial boom”. In most countries, memory (which is always conflicting and transgressive) is managed by the authorities and this leads to a competition of memories or even a memorial saturation, using the terms of authors like Ricoeur and Régine Robin. The decade 2010-2020 is certainly full of opportunities; it is a decade for the analysis, enforcement, transnational work and learning.
