ALEIDA ASSMANN // RE-IMAGINING THE NATION: MEMORY, IDENTITY AND THE EMOTIONS

Looking at recent developments in Europe, the concept of the nation is presently under pressure. The danger comes from a stern reaction against new waves of migrants, vocally articulated by right wing groups that are becoming more and more self-assertive, supporting populist demands for easy solutions, strong borders and reckless leaders. This new nationalism is ready to forgo and to forget lessons of history that had successfully domesticated and democratized the nations of the EU over the last 70 years. If the nation, however, is an important resource for integration, and integration is seen as a common project for both its citizens and its migrants, how can it be reimagined and supported to live up to this difficult and important task? In the course of my lecture, I will try to analyze these problems in the light of new and older concepts.