To understand the reasons for the failure of memory policies and shed light on the public debate, this book return to the sources of these memory policies and, without political bias or taking sides, ask – where do these policies come from? What do they really do? How can we make them work effectively? Read More
Forgetting the past means being condemned to repeat it. Since the end of the 1990s, this idea has inspired the massive development of memory policies throughout the world. Memorial museums, monuments, civic education and institutions have all been given the task of writing history, honouring victims, speaking about good and evil, and enabling citizens and political leaders to build peaceful societies.
Yet these policies have not reached their objectives. They have not been able to hold back the rising tide of populism nor prevent the outbreak of political violence. To understand the reasons for this failure and shed light on the public debate, the authors return to the sources of these memory policies and, without political bias or taking sides, ask – where do these policies come from? What do they really do? How can we make them work effectively?
Introduction
I. CE QUI EST ATTENDU DES LEÇONS DU PASSÉ
La mémoire, outil de réforme de la société contemporaine
Les instruments des politiques de mémoire
« Plus jamais ça » : de l'efficacité des politiques de mémoire
II. QUELLES LEÇONS DE MÉMOIRE RETIENNENT LES INDIVIDUS ?
Mémoires d'école : des « bruits » sociaux pleins la classe
Mémoires au musée : reconnaître le passé
Commissions de vérité : une guérison collective des traumatismes ?
Procès pour mémoire : le droit, c'est d'abord du droit (et de la politique)
III. LES EFFETS SOCIAUX ET POLITIQUES DE LA MÉMOIRE
Peut-on vraiment réformer l'individu ?
Le pouvoir politique des politiques de mémoire
Entrepreneur de mémoire, une profession comme une autre
Conclusion. Les politiques de mémoire pourraient-elles être plus efficaces ?
Bibliographie