The political changes that occurred this past year in Argentina have alerted the international community to the need to preserve policies aimed at defending and promoting human rights . The ESMA Memory Site Museum , which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023 , thus receives international recognition as a heritage element whose mission diverges significantly from the vision of the current Argentine government . We discuss this with Mayki Gorosito , Executive Director of the ESMA Memory Site Museum , who also shares insights into the complexities of memorialising the space .
In the section of short articles , we have several contributions of great interest due to the relevance of the processes they represent . One such case is presented by Diana Castelblanco , in which the materiality of objects evokes a memory powerful enough to counteract the deterritorialisation and loss of identity experienced by communities in post-conflict Colombia . Similarly , Javier Tébar and Andrea Tappi emphasise the importance of critical reflection when analysing Spain and Portugal ’ s transitions to democracy , particularly in the current context of commemorating these milestones . For their part , Mario Proli and Patrick Leech discuss the mosaics of the former fascist-era pilot training school in Forlì , Italy . Featuring motifs glorifying fascist ideology and its connection to aviation , the mosaics remain intact in what is now a secondary school . This makes them a heritage asset with significant educational potential for future generations . In the same vein , Luiza Iordache and Rocío Negrete stress the importance of deepening research into overlooked subjects in historiographical narratives , such as the women who participated in the anti-fascist resistance in France .
In the reviews section , Ricard Conesa introduces us to the recently inaugurated Museu Nacional Resistência e Liberdade . Located in the Fortress of Peniche , near Lisbon , the museum honours the political prisoners of the Estado Novo regime and their struggle for freedom . Yayo Aznar offers reflections on the role of memory and its various material representations in a review of Daniel Palacios ’ book , Making Monuments from Mass Graves in Contemporary Spain . Palacios , in turn , reviews the work of Sanja Horvatinčić and Beti Žerovc , Shaping Revolutionary Memory . The Production of Monuments in Socialist Yugoslavia , which explores the unique characteristics of memory and monumental representation in the former Yugoslavia . Finally , David González introduces us to the story of the Spanish Republican teacher Antoni Benaiges , whose life inspired the film El maestro que prometió el mar ( The Teacher Who Promised the Sea ).
In the section dedicated to members of the EUROM network , Csaba Szilágyi reminds us of the fundamental role archives play as custodians of memory . Using the example of the Blinken OSA Archivum and its organic connection to the Central European University , we see how an archival institution ’ s work in preservation , research , and dissemination can support democratic values and promote human rights . At Blinken OSA Archivum , this is achieved through initiatives such as those presented here , related to the Srebrenica massacre , current refugee crises , and the Holocaust itself .
As always , we have maintained a multidisciplinary approach and presented a plurality of actors and authors from diverse professional , geographical , and geopolitical perspectives . We hope you enjoy reading Observing Memories 8 .
Jordi Guixé Director of the European Observatory on Memories
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