On Agonistic Memory

TY - JOUR

T1 - On Agonistic Memory

AU - Cento Bull, Anna

AU - Hansen, Hans Lauge

PY - 2016/10/1

Y1 - 2016/10/1

N2 - Building on Mouffe’s critique of cosmopolitanism, this article argues that a cosmopolitan mode of remembering, far from having superseded the antagonistic mode associated with ‘first modernity’ in the European context, has proved unable to prevent the rise of, and is being increasingly challenged by, new antagonistic collective memories constructed by populist neo-nationalist movements. This article outlines the main defining characteristics of a third ‘agonistic’ mode of remembering, which is both reflexive and dialogic, yet also relies upon politicized representations of past conflicts, acknowledging civic and political passions as well as individual and collective agency.

AB - Building on Mouffe’s critique of cosmopolitanism, this article argues that a cosmopolitan mode of remembering, far from having superseded the antagonistic mode associated with ‘first modernity’ in the European context, has proved unable to prevent the rise of, and is being increasingly challenged by, new antagonistic collective memories constructed by populist neo-nationalist movements. This article outlines the main defining characteristics of a third ‘agonistic’ mode of remembering, which is both reflexive and dialogic, yet also relies upon politicized representations of past conflicts, acknowledging civic and political passions as well as individual and collective agency.

KW - agonism

KW - antagonism

KW - collective memory

KW - cosmopolitanism

KW - modes of remembering

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84989221380&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/1750698015615935

DO - 10.1177/1750698015615935

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1750-6980

VL - 9

SP - 390

EP - 404

JO - Memory Studies

JF - Memory Studies

IS - 4

ER -