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10 March 2011

On “Commemoration and Conflict: Exploring Collective Memory in Transitional Societies” by Professor Sabine Marschall University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, on Thursday, 24 March 2011 at 6.00 p.m.in the Great Hall, Magee campus, University of Ulster Followed by refreshments

RSVP (acceptance only) to je.farren@ulster.ac.uk; tel. 028 71675575

By 16 March 2011

“Commemoration and Conflict: Exploring Collective Memory in Transitional Societies”

Memory and commemoration are integral components of conflict and it is widely believed that processes of memorialisation can make important contributions towards healing, reconciliation, peace and unity in post-conflict societies. Not only has little research been conducted on how individuals interpret memory sites and commemorative practices and what impact they have in transitional societies, but prevailing discourses on commemoration are often based on the assumption that commemoration always involves deliberate and intentional actions. Based on Kansteiner’s (2002) contention that collective memory is the result of the interaction between three overlapping elements, namely the media of memory, the makers and the users of memory, this paper presents commemoration as a complex, multifaceted, and fluid phenomenon, which includes informal, unpredictable and unintended dimensions. Referencing examples from South Africa and a number of international case studies, four categories of collective remembrance are distinguished, namely officially sanctioned commemoration; unofficial or vernacular commemoration; unintended or silent commemoration; and lastly, commemoration through absence. It is argued that commemoration, like memory itself, cannot always be controlled, hence limiting the scope of action for those who want to encourage or discourage commemoration for the sake of peace and reconciliation. However, important lessons may be learnt from reflecting on the complexity and comprehensiveness of the commemorative phenomenon and the often overlapping groups of users and makers of collective memory in a context of globalization.

This lecture is part of a series of INCORE events being organised by Dr Sara McDowell and Professor Brian Graham as part of their ESRC funded project which explores the relationship between memory and peace processes.