Europe is and remains in search of an identity. The borders between countries are increasingly dissolving. Yet without a common history, it often proves difficult to grasp other cultures and accept their realities. This is where the 'United Europe – Divided Memory Project' applies itself. Through three workshops hosted by international and interdisciplinary rounds of experts, it strives to expand to a transnational European outlook what until now has largely been the nationally documented postwar concept of history.

In connection with new findings (especially since the 1989 opening of archives), different national and political, corner points relevant to conveying history are to be compared here. In the process, this generates new approaches which coincide with Europe’s altered situation. In addition, current "commemorative culture" is discussed and the possibilities for a future European historiography demonstrated.

Beyond conveying historical knowledge, the project fosters a critical consciousness for handling history in the realm of a broad audience. Parallel to the academic work, an Internet presence will be arranged to inform of the project’s activities and establish a forum for discussions. Following the closing conference in 2009, the developed results will appear in a publication focused on the entire project.

From September 19.-21, 2008, the first of the three interdisciplinary and international workshops was held under the direction of Prof. Timothy Snyder (Yale). The participants were: Marek Wierzbicki, Christoph Mick, Yevgenij Rozenblat, Alex J. Kay, Birthe Kundrus, Pavel Polian, Dieter Pohl, Leonid Smilovitsky, Rafał Wnuk, Timm C. Richter, David Marples, Andrzej Waśkiewicz, Ihor Ilyushin und Alexandra Goujon (more information at the link on the upper right-hand side).

The second workshop from November 28-30, 2008 in Vienna examined the consequences of Stalinism in different Eastern and Western European countries as well as the effects of the collectivization of the 30s. It started with a public panel discussion with Stefan Troebst, Timothy Snyder, Hans Rauscher and Heidemarie Uhle. Further participants of the workshop were: Andrea Graziosi, Sarah Cameron, Terry Martin, Hiroaki Kuromiya, Slawomir Debşki, Geoffrey Roberts, Serhii Yekelchyk, Iuri Shapoval, Mark Kramer, Jens Gieseke, Wolfgang Müller, Silvio Pons, Stefano Bottoni, Kyril Drezov and Peter Kenez (more information at the link on the upper right-hand side).

Planned in Autumn 2009.

Project framework: January 2008 to October 2009

Project venue: Institute for Human Sciences (IWM), Spittelauer Lände 3, 1090 Wien

Project partner: IWM, Vienna