Beyond Memory

This book provides a fresh perspective on the familiar belief that memory policies are successful in building peaceful societies. Whether in a stable democracy or in the wake of a violent political conflict, this book argues that memory policies are unhelpful in preventing hate, genocide, and mass crimes. Since the 1990s, transmitting the memory of violent pasts has been utilised in attempts to foster tolerance and fight racism, hate and antisemitism. However, countries that invested in memory policies have overseen the rise of hate crimes and populisms instead of growing social cohesion. Breaking with the usual moralistic position, this book takes stock of this situation. Where do these memory policies come from? Whom do they serve? Can we make them more effective? In other words, can we really learn from the past? At a time when memory studies is blooming, this book questions the normative belief in the effects of memory.

“Beyond Memory is a must read for all memory scholars and memory activists! It explains why civic education through negative memory has not worked and offers a surprising solution: self-reflexive moral action is most likely to develop in social settings which enable individuals and groups to think and act against the grain of hegemonic culture, including hegemonic cosmopolitan memory.” (Wulf Kansteiner, Aarhus University, Denmark)

“In this timely and powerful book, Sarah Gensburger and Sandrine Lefranc challenge the basic assumptions that ground the proliferation of memory policies around the world. Through a comparative framework that draws on multiple international examples and through incisive observations, the authors force us to rethink the supposed power of memory projects and, in so doing, this book raises profound questions about how societies and individuals learn from violent pasts.” (Scott Straus, Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Universityof Wisconsin-Madison, USA.)

“Crossing disciplines and continents, Gensburger and Lefranc’s timely book provides an original contribution to the field of memory studies in an innovative, expert and professional style.” (Jordi Guixé, Director of the European Observatory on Memories, University of Barcelona, Spain)

Sarah Gensburger is a Senior Researcher in Social Sciences at the French National Center for Scientific Research, France. Her work focuses on public policies of memory and social appropriations of the past in Western democracies.

Sandrine Lefranc is a Senior Researcher in Social Sciences at the French National Center for Scientific Research, France. Her work focuses on post-conflict societies and transitional justice.