Here we provide a preview of our latest publications. Follow this link to the Cultures of History Forum's website to get access to all our articles.
Politics of History
Recent revisions of Hungary's National Core Curriculum have been widely criticized, both within the country and abroad. Especially the inclusion of controversial authors and the simultaneous removal of others, among them Imre Kertész, raised concerns about the current government's culture war now being taken to the classroom. The article reviews the new curriculum and the ensuing public debates, and reflects on its repercussions for Hungary's democratic historical culture today.
Debating 20th Century History
How strong are memories of the 1989 revolution in Germany and the Czechoslovak successor states, and how do they reinforce democratic politics today? In a comparative review of the anniversary commemorations in Leipzig, Berlin, Prague and Bratislava, the article discusses to what extent these events managed to reanimate the civic spirit of 1989 and how they alert to contemporary threats to democracy.
Debating 20th Century History
A year ago, the documentary film 'Kolyma – Birthplace of Our Fear' was uploaded to YouTube. Made by the blogger Yuri Dud, it has received over 20 million views today, despite the fact that it addresses one of the darkest chapters of recent history in Russia - the Gulag. The article analyses the film and its popular appeal, not least among young audiences. It identifies three key phenomena of present-day Russia that the documentary addresses: fear, ambivalent attitudes towards Stalin and an ahistorical form of patriotism.