European Memory and Conflicting Visions of the Past (Memory Politics and

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This book explains a number of ways in which the dialogue about Europe's past and future could be rendered more inclusive, such as the promotion of critical and sentimental education, and the creation of virtual and actual social spaces in which citizens and organised identity groups can participate.The discussion about European memory is far from being a "merely" symbolic issue with no political consequences. Imagining Europe and its past in different ways will lead to different real political outcomes. For instance, thinking about Europe as an embodiment of the values of the Enlightenment (such as human rights, liberal democracy and reason) is bound to produce different political decisions with respect to enlargement than considering Europe as an entity built on the heritage of Christianity. Seeing European institutions as a guarantor of peace on the continent, as a guarantor of prosperity or as a guarantor that massive human rights violations like genocide will "never again" be committed on its soil all entail different political objectives. Similarly, thinking about European memory as a thing or a social construct, as one memory or as a plurality of memories, as the end point of deliberation or as a dialogical process are not merely inconsequential cultural "froth on the tides of society," but are crucially important issues with real political consequences. The book is intended to contribute to this discussion about the common European approach to the past (and thus to the future).