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In recent years European states have turned toward more austere political regimes, entailing budget cuts, deregulation of labour markets, restrictions of welfare systems, securitization of borders and new regimes of migration and citizenship. In the wake of such changes, new forms of social inclusion and exclusion appear that are justified through a reactivation of differences of race, class and gender.
Against this backdrop, this collection investigates contemporary understandings of history and cultural memory. In doing so, the reader will join the leading European contributors of this title in examining how crisis and decline in contemporary Europe trigger a selective forgetting and remodelling of the past. Indeed, Austere Histories in European Societies breaks new paths in scholarship by synthesising and connecting current European debates on migration, racism and multiculturalism. In addition to this, the authors present debates on cultural memory and the place of the colonial legacy within an extensive comparative framework and across the boundaries of the humanities and social sciences.
This book will appeal to scholars and students across the social sciences and humanities, particularly in European studies, memory studies, sociology, postcolonial studies, migration studies, European history, cultural policy, cultural heritage, economics and political theory.
List of contents
1. Introducing Austere Histories – Stefan Jonsson and Julia Willén Part I: Cases 2. ‘Our Island Story’: The Dangerous Politics of Belonging in Austere Times – Gurminder K. Bhambra 3. The Politics of Colonial Remembrance in France (1980-2012) – Nicolas Bancel and Pascal Blanchard 4. The Selective Forgetting and Remodeling of the Past: Postcolonial Legacies in the Netherlands – Esther Captain 5. From Austerity to Postcolonial Nostalgia: Crisis and National Identity in Portugal and Denmark –Elsa Peralta and Lars Jensen 6. Austere Curricula: Multicultural Education and Black Students – Robbie Shilliam Part II: Conjunctures 7. Exclusion through Citizenship and the Geopolitics of Austerity – Manuela Boatcă 8. Refugee Keynesianism? EU Migration Crises in Times of Fiscal Austerity – Peo Hansen 9. Restrained Equality: A Sexualized and Gendered Colour Line – Nacira Guénif-Souilamas 10. Writing History for an Uncertain Future: Concluding Remarks – Julia Willén and Stefan Jonsson
About the author
Stefan Jonsson is Professor of Ethnic studies at Linköping University, Sweden.
Julia Willén is a doctoral candidate at Linköping University, Sweden.
Summary
This book examines how political and economic crises in the present trigger a selective forgetting and remodelling of the past.
