OVERVIEW
Contested European Memory:
Nationalism, Identity, and the Politics of Remembrance
Dietmar J. Wetzel MSH Medical School, Hamburg & University of Basel
1. Introduction – Memory in a fragmented Europe 1
In an era of resurgent nationalism and democratic backsliding, the notion of shared European memory appears both essential and paradoxical. As I recently demonstrated( Wetzel 2025), European memory is not a monolithic entity, but rather a dynamic and layered cultural construct, shaped by diverse social actors and institutions. Against the backdrop of post-war integration, the fall of the Iron Curtain, and current geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine and Brexit, Europe’ s memory culture faces renewed fragmentation. Right-wing populist parties across Europe are using memory to mobilise support, reinforce exclusionary narratives, and challenge supranational institutions such as the European Union( EU).
European collective memory is deeply embedded in the politics of identity. It mediates between historical experiences, emotional investments, and normative orientations. Although the EU has sought to foster a shared memory rooted in anti-fascism and reconciliation, member states persist in emphasising their own national myths, heroes, and victimhood. This fragmentation challenges the vision of a cohesive European identity based on solidarity and dialogical remembrance( Assmann 2007).
1. This contribution is based on my article " Das europäische Gedächtnis im Spannungsfeld national gerahmter Erinnerungsdiskurse ", in: Dimbath, Oliver und Gerd Sebald( 2025), Vergangenheitsbezüge. Bilanz und Perspektiven sozialwissenschaftlicher Gedächtnisforschung. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, 291-312.
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Observing Memories ISSUE 9