Narratives of Power
Memory Politics in Europe and the Contemporary World
Historians without Borders, The Institute of Historical Research and the ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy cordially invite you to attend the following event below, which will take place on 15 January 2026 in London.
Narratives of Power:
Memory Politics in Europe and the Contemporary World
(London; January 15th, 2026 - from 14:00-17:00)
https://historianswithoutborders.fi/en/tapahtumat/narratives-of-power-london
This seminar brings together scholars, diplomats, and policy experts to examine the politics of memory and history in the contemporary context. It will explore how Russia and other increasingly authoritarian regimes shape narratives of the past for present purposes, as well as what the principles of German Vergangenheitsbewältigung may imply today. The discussions will address strategies of remembrance, denial, and commemoration.
The programme will feature expert panels, diplomatic dialogue, and scholarly exchange on key issues, including the treatment of colonial history in public discourse and history education, and the evolving role of the past in shaping the present.
📅Date: Thursday January 15th 2026 Time: 14.00 - 17.00
📍Venue: The Institute for Historical Research, Wolfson conference suite, at the University of London, Senate House Malet Street London WC1E 7HU
The seminar will include a presentation of the principles and work of the international network Historians without Borders, followed by a discussion on how historians in the United Kingdom could contribute to the network.
Programme:
14:00-15:30 Discussion:
Narratives of Power: Memory Politics in Europe and the Contemporary World
Speakers and Discussants:
Professor Gurminder K Bhambra: On the Making of the English Land-Owning Class – Remembering Colonial Histories
Professor Philip Murphy: Popular Memory of the Wars of the Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries and its Impact on Notions of Britain’s Place in Europe and the Wider World
15:30-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-17:00 Discussion:
Historians without Borders
Speakers and Discussants:
Dr. Erkki Tuomioja
Dr. Michael Weatherburn
For further enquiries, please contact:
Historians without Borders in Finland: info@hwb.fi
ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy: info@culturaldiplomacy.org
Mark Donfried – 0049 1511 558 1686
Registration: Please complete the online registration form to confirm your participation.
For Remote Participants: A freely accessible streaming link will be uploaded to the event page on ICD’s website.