August 23 is both the International Slave Trade Remembrance Day, as declared in 1998 by UNESCO, and the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, as proclaimed by the European Parliament in 2008/2009.

August 23 stands for two historical events that happened centuries apart – the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, and the beginning of the slaves’ uprising in Santo Domingo in 1791 (Haitian Revolution). The European and international remembrance agendas on that day thus provide an opportunity to address the complex and multidimensional nature of collective historical memory.

The concept of “collective memory” is a cornerstone of the House of European History. The museum is therefore bringing together scholars working on the history and public memory of both totalitarianism and colonialism within and outside Europe to debate:

• How can distinct and even diverging memories interact productively, embracing a variety of experiences and perspectives on Europe’s past?
• How can public discussions on history and memory contribute to more equity, avoiding competition and helping to address tensions emerging from present political and social circumstances?

Join us for this new edition of our Debating History series, watch the debate live on the House of European History YouTube channel and take part in the Q&A session at the end of the discussion.

Speakers:

• Dr. Simina Badica, House of European History, Belgium
• Dr. Ruramisai Charumbira, University of Bern, Switzerland
• Prof. Michael Rothberg, University of Los Angeles, United States

Moderator:

PD Dr. Markus J. Prutsch, European Parliament, Belgium, & Heidelberg University, Germany