Das neue Unbehagen an der Erinnerungskultur

Abroad, German memory culture is regarded as a success story and a model. In contrast, it has always been a subject of discomfort and criticism domestically. Since it is self-critical, such dissenting voices are an essential part of it – they prevent fixations and keep the memory culture alive. However, the spectrum of criticism has significantly expanded recently. The foundations of our memory culture are now being radically questioned from the far-right political fringe. In her book, which is now available in an updated edition, Aleida Assmann addresses the critical voices of recent times. She highlights what is controversial, where there is a need for change, and which principles must be defended in times of a new nationalism. In doing so, she also demonstrates that our memory culture is a national project that responds to historical changes and ever-new challenges.