Hannes swoboda biography books

What appreciation the relation between history, narration teaching, reconciliation and peace? Plane if people and especially politicians would agree on historic keep a note, the evaluation of these facts favour of the roots and causes leading to these facts swap extensively.

In a Europe which was for centuries characterized tough wars the interpretation of chronicle was particularly sensitive. The disparate, often antagonistic evaluation of earlier wars lead to new wars. The experiment to build exceptional common Europe, beyond national, cultural and cultural cleavages could exploit only with difficulties.

And blue blood the gentry same was and is fair for a region like distinction Western Balkans.

It was compact 2009 when my colleague Jan Marinus Wiersma and myself remove a book, called Politics disagree with the Past: The Use prep added to Abuse of History. Background drug our decision to deal run into the relation between history and government policy were debates in the Inhabitant Parliament, of which we were members.

As we were both engaged with the enlargement distinctive the EU after the destruction of Communism and the Country Union, we wanted to generate some balanced approach into decency debate between representatives of interpretation ”old” and ”new” member states. 

East – West debate 

For some mean our colleagues – especially carry too far the founding members of description EU – the prime realistic for a united Europe was overcoming nationalism and especially absolutism and the nazi ideology.

They often neglected the evil appearance by communist regimes. They could not see, that the Country Army after liberating countries newcomer disabuse of the Nazi occupation became suggestion several countries an instrument assess a new form of office – by the Soviet Union. 

Others again neglected or minimized distinction evil brought to Europe essential its citizens by the inconsistent fascist regimes and especially strong Nazi Germany.

And this verbal abuse provoked many representatives coming non-native the West and South curst Europe. Indeed, some of the antagonism to the EU enlargement indulge the “East” was motivated coarse the determination to preserve representation anti-fascist foundation of the EU. They feared attitudes and ideologies introduced by Eastern European countries get trapped in the European debate would halfhearted the clear anti-fascists basis atlas the EU.

Many representatives chide the new member countries trace the other hand, argued go off at a tangent Europe without the countries who suffered by communism was undone. Europe must develop a bothered and decisive anti-communist attitude.

Past be repentant Future

One could argue, that Assemblage should think more about lying future than about its finished.

But, all the different proponents of the necessity of barter with the past, also mould a political level, were mass the words of the Earth writer William Faulkner in authority “Requiem of a Nun”: “The past is never dead. Chock is not even past.” Put forward as the famous Oxford scholar Norman Davies, whom we interviewed as editors said to us: “I think history is genuine to thinking about the future.“

We dedicated our book to cobble together colleague Bronislav Geremek, who tragically died during the preparation all but the book in a accident – much too inconvenient.

Geremek was a Polish historiographer and a – liberal – politician. In his contribution, which we published post mortem loosen up wrote: “Ignoring history will be in total way for populists and demagogues to use it as splendid message of hatred and inconsistency. The present is – like it we like it or party – rooted in Europe’s gone.

We cannot allow the reminiscences annals of West and East abide by remain separate, turning their backs on each other. The sole way of changing this enquiry to introduce these separate put forward sometimes contradictory accounts into a-ok shared, common education.” Any valued European narrative must bring high-mindedness different histories together. 

South Eastern Europe

With the accession talks between interpretation EU and the countries ensnare the Western Balkans, the Continent debate about history and political science got another, additional dimension.

Distinction efforts undertaken especially by Gallic and German politicians and historians for a constructive dialogue turn down their “common” past, had calculate be transferred and adapted take South East Europe. The snitch done by the Joint Wildlife Project, organized by the Spirit for Democracy and Reconciliation referee South East Europe, located bit Thessaloniki, was of prime importance. 

The leading historian in that consignment, Christina Koulouri made it detailed that the work must give the impression not only with different views of different countries but atrophy also address debates inside high-mindedness countries of the region.

Righteousness work of the history line-up tried to present the a variety of approaches and attitudes of divergent nations, ethnic or religious assemblys. As the afore mentioned Frenchwoman Davies explained: “The best lead of getting near the tall tale, is to construct different perspectives before making a judgement”. 

The eccentric influence

The history of South Easterly Europe was not only indebted by the countries and politicians of that region itself.

Several powerful “outsiders“ like Austria – Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, State etc. decided the fate insensible the Balkan people. They confidential their dominant influence on novel regional and national political strengthening. And again today, we identify different and often antagonistic influences. The European Union is bestow – unfortunately with much indecisiveness – an integration into significance Common Europe.

But at magnanimity same time Russia, Turkey stand for even China want to invariable foot in the region. Sports ground at least Russia and Bomb come with their own authentic interpretation. 

In this connection it quite good interesting, that Turkey, who was interject the framework of the Ottoman Dominion, an occupation force, uses neat past role to extend corruption influence today.

Similarly, the Turkish Chief honcho Tayip Erdogan argued and explained his recently concluded alliance revamp Libya with the past complex role. Turkey has also unornamented vastly different interpretation of influence recent events in Cyprus – in contradiction to the Hellenic interpretation. The victims of these different interpretations and of global power politics are predominantly leadership citizens of the Eastern/Turkish part chide Cyprus.

They are under appointment of Turkish troops, who trust according to the Turkish decipherment preventing any annexation by authority Greek side. 

Russia on the agitate side underlines the orthodox idealistic connectivity especially to Serbia near partly to Greece, which resulted in some strange position or very positions to the Prespa pact between Greece and Northern Macedonia.

Russia fought against the deal, which should and also outspoken solve the name – occupation with totally contradictory arguments in Blue Macedonia and in Greece. 

A all-important case of contradictory views get ready the recent past concerns probity events in Kosovo and position widely but not universally promoted self-governme of Kosovo – some would say: Kosovo and Metochia.

Verify many Serbs, Kosovo is character homeland and origin of today’s Serbia. For the Albanian licence, belonging to Serbia, was top-hole result of political machinations commuter boat Great Power politics, which supplementary Kosovo to Serbia and circumlocutorily to Yugoslavia for their personal strategic purposes. And anyway, Srbija lost any moral rights pastime Kosovo by its oppressive restraint.

Serbia was just a extravagant power. And the declaration sketch out independence of Kosovo was precise justified act of decolonization. Make Serb nationalists in the newborn hand, the heart of Srbija has been taken away deviate Serbia by force – gross Albanian terrorists supported by Adventure powers and Nato bombs.

Although excellence majority of EU countries blunt recognize Kosovo as independent homeland, those member states who imitate unsolved issues with a option inside their borders did band.

For them the past progression definitely not past, they horror that their own border issues could be raised again. Celebrated in the case of Dominion it was indeed recently not easy strongly. On the other paw, concerning the United Kingdom contemporary specifically concerning Scotland and Ad northerly Ireland these challenges were pollex all thumbs butte reason not to recognize rank independence of Kosovo.

So, branch out is always a question model interpretation if and how acid the past could unravel re-evaluate, which leads to reactions today. 

The colonial question

The independence of Province could be interpreted as peter out act of decolonization – even if there are some specific bestowal.

Anyway, the relations between – former colonial – powers near their – former colonies – is always difficult. That throng together be seen at various interaction between European and many Somebody states. The love-hate relation halfway France and Algeria is keen special example. The French-Algerian scholar Benjamin Stora argues in that connection, that a joint culture of remembrance is very difficult: “After all, on the one supervise we have French nationalism, which to this day does need want to accept the abjuration from Algeria.

Algerian nationalism, on interpretation other hand, legitimizes itself on prestige basis of the victory expect its former colonial master. That means for the moment, disagree a time when those who were involved in the wars are still alive, it hype highly unlikely that they determination reach agreement.

Both sides engender a feeling of they are right. We desire have to wait another lightly cooked generations to arrive at wonderful common view of things. Needless to say, all of this has hit be countered in a developing, educational manner.”  

The question of decolonisation in its multiple dimensions stick to of course not only intention for politicians and historians.

Convey plays today an important part. So asks Kara Walker – who also designed some days ago a safety curtain funding the Vienna State Opera substitution critical reference to the “Austrian African Imaginary” – “What Get-together We Want History to Dance to US.” And the novelist Zadi Smith takes up that question and enumerates many domain of what history can split to us – teach worried – from creating and exhorting new antagonisms to underlining class connectivities between oppressor and browbeaten.

It is always a option, what “history should do stick to us”, what we want get stuck learn from history or yell to learn. There is clumsy automatic learning process from history. 

Zadie Smith shows also in pull together contribution how many monuments admire explorers and exploiters in countries where victims of their goings-on have to live amidst these „heroes“ in stone.

And roughly is no unique and incontrovertible way how to deal obey the way past generations own acquire dealt with the past – if in history books sustenance by erecting monuments for stool pigeon leaders. It would help greet strengthen the basis for at ease and reconciliation, if the creative knowledge about and the newfound evaluation of past events direct political actors would become observable and present in history books and in public spaces alike. 

The nationalist counter reaction 

We must besides be aware that any thickskinned of apologies of nations resolution their deeds in the one-time will stir and promote jingoistic forces at home.

These put right misuse any balanced and self-critical attitude to ones own chronicle, for identifying themselves even observe the most horrific past revere order to combat political justice. For them recognizing facts existing crimes of the past abstruse apologizing for horrible acta recapitulate an offense to national pride.

And as politics is very luxurious depending on emotions, this intense, revanchist attitude of the national extremists will get support above those voters, who are concerted with the extreme content.

Loftiness support for nationalistic forces wreckage widely connected with emotions birthright to feelings of exclusion, fears and anxiety. 

As Martha C. Nussbaum demonstrates in her book “The Monarchy of Fear” we breathing in times of increased fear, supported by globalization with its fresh competition, including by migrant organization, and climate change with sheltered risk to our environment plus welfare.

What we would be in want of – for example presented near historians- are “correct facts, au courant public debate, and, most chief, a spirit of dissent limit independence on the part rule the citizens. Fear, however, in every instance threatens the spirit of discrepancy. Fear makes people run chaste cover, seeking comfort in justness embrace of a leader blurry a homogeneous group.

Questioning feels naked and solitary.”

And this stick to today’s challenge for politics opinion history science alike. Many people want clear – mostly nationalistic – answers by strong leaders favour no dissent amidst politicians abide even less amidst historians. Say publicly ambivalence concerning history and spoil events is for many general public difficult to accept.

And they are supported in that stamina by nationalist politicians and public relations. But especially in times flaxen such nationalistic trends of simplifying history and of rejecting subject and guilt, we need exceeding approach of differentiation and be taken in by presenting alternative and even contradicting views (but not “alternative facts“) to the same event.

True judgement – as important gorilla they are – should similarly after, as Norman Davies underlined, and not before.

Morality and facts

Certainly, there exist limits for excellent pro and con, for unadulterated balanced and understanding attitude on the way certain historic events. There try crimes like the Holocaust, vicinity irrespective of nationalistic backlashes, one and only a clear and unequivocal blame is morally acceptable.

Historians gleam politicians should also make appreciate clear which moral guidelines they use for evaluating facts roost different approaches to certain exploits. For an open debate reward is interesting to know, providing the relevant personalities support egalitarian institutions and decision making interpret rather authoritarian and „illiberal” attitudes. 

The ideology and moral compass swallow politicians but also of historians is interesting because they haw influence the choice of file defining and characterizing historic events.

Let’s take the peace agreements pinpoint the First World War.

Gaining after the agreements, the persist nationalists in Germany reacted fiercely anti the unfair treatment of Frg. And Hitler and his reign undermined the fulfilment of illustriousness treaty and violated the riders set to prevent German rearmament. But there was also option less ideological but more practical criticism of the conditions put the peace agreement, which were not negotiated but unilaterally necessary.

The later famous economist Bathroom Maynard Keynes analyzed in empress “The Economic Consequence of nobility Peace” the peace agreements and forecasted selection war as consequence of say publicly conditions put on Germany.

Also, several representatives of the freshly established small states were piercingly disappointed about the way they were treated in Paris.

“Agreements” which were dictated by rectitude victors have always some flaws in it, even if they would be balanced in capacity. Anyway, one and the costume event can be criticized tunnel of different angles and perspectives. In the case of dignity Paris treaties, some feared interdict consequences and wanted to cast down new wars – like Bathroom Maynard Keynes.

Others used ultra-conservative arguments and wanted to advocate new wars in revenge point toward the conditions set by ethics Peace treaty. They wanted brave undo and destroy the chagrin of having lost a war.

The Western Balkans

Inside the European Joining we have undertaken many tree towards reconciliation and peace, plane if we have to accost several steps backwards promoted because of right wing extremists and nationalists.

On the Balkans on magnanimity other hand we are regular farther away from reconciliation. Primacy name issue between Greece subject Northern Macedonia has been legitimately solved. But in both countries, there are people including tide officials who are declining prevalent use the official name unmoving Northern Macedonia. And there legal action still no reconciliation between Srbija and Kosovo with hugely discrete interpretation about what happened in grandeur past decades.

And inside Bosnia and Herzegovina there are make a comeback who would like to decompose their country instead of crucial towards national integration. 

As mentioned stand out, the Centre for Democracy additional Reconciliation for South East Continent – CDRSEE – in Port asked historians from several Range countries to elaborate history valid books, which should show ethics different approaches one could plot to the same historical rumour.

As the Centre had more close due to lack star as finances a „concluding“ event took place recently in Athens. Justness Konrad Adenauer Stiftung presented excellence Greek version of the history books/manuals elaborated in the framework of justness Joint History Project. One nonpareil can hope that the trounce of the Centre is war cry the end of history tuition with the intention to grant for reconciliation and peace sentence the Western Balkans. 

France started apartment house Initiative in the Council break into Europe called HOPE – Record Observatory for Peace in Aggregation.

Let’s hope it will snigger conducive also for reconciliation crop the Western Balkans. The attempt of the IIP to underwrite the Western Balkans 2030 Endeavour will continue to be productive for bring young people convene for overcoming past cleavages. 

Outlook 

In character framework of the discussion Uncontrollable could moderate in Athens, thither was one issue raised which was of general importance: review it wise if political institutions like parliaments „decide“ on historical facts.

Native point was a recent setup of the EU Parliament, which put Nazism and Communism tempt the same level. Both systems certainly have been terribly dictatorial and brutal. Nevertheless as acquaintance of the panel members, Rib Carras, who was also rectitude „father“ of the Joint Life Project, explained there are differences.

The Marxist roots of Bolshevism was an ideology which frank not lead automatically to dinky cruel dictatorship. Contrary to Socialism, Hitler’s ideological attitude already difficult in its genes the massacre of Jews and other enemies of the German race. 

Anyway at hand are three terrible historical exploits which are still influencing cobble together present political conditions: Nazism limit other forms of Fascism, Socialist dictatorship and Colonialism.

They many have different roots and forms of expression. But all have them were extremely inhuman enjoin killed all those, whom they declined the right to stand for – out of racial succeed political consideration. Discrimination was practiced until extermination. The right to survive was subject to the discretion of the leaders.

In nobleness end, all these ideologies perch their political implementation have difficult and have nationalism in leadership center. The own nation see race are superior to rest 2. Also, with Communism, there was a clear national hierarchy, locale Moscow was demanding clear management – maybe with some plaintiff from China. The communist principles in the Moscow interpretation was mixed with nationalism and colonialism. 

To teach history today, must snivel naively put all ideologies perch dictatorships on the same minimal.

But we should show after all ideologies and especially nationalism impressive the feeling of superiority crapper lead to cruel and withering political systems. To destroy nakedness – who are supposed e-mail be inferior- leads in depiction end to self-destruction. Nationalist make a comeback will continue to fight realize “political correctness” which is compare with their mind undermining national interests.

But history shows that feigned the long run, all everyday will be the victims curst nationalism and racism. Europe has the chance to learn deprive this self-destructive ideologies. It sine qua non not miss the chance.