Diverging memories in Belgium. Is this so? If so, why? And is it a problem?

9th Public Event of the Re-Bel initiative
Thursday 20 June 2013 from 2 to 6pm

Nations share (the idea of) a common past. What about Belgium? Does the succession of state reforms go hand in hand with a divergence of the memories about Belgium’s past? Is this a part of the “Belgian problem”? Or is it a wider phenomenon: the falling apart of collective national identities in a globalizing world? Must we care about a common national memory? Who are the agents of memory in our society? How can they be influenced? 

Programme

13.30 Registration

14.00 Opening words by Philippe VAN PARIJS (UCLouvain & Oxford)

14.05 – 15.30
A birth’s eye view on diverging memories in Belgium
Chaired & introduced by Bruno DE WEVER (UGent)
Gita DENECKERE (UGent)
Chantal KESTELOOT (CEGES)

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee break

16.15 – 17.55
Diverging memories: themes
Chaired by Estelle CANTILLON (ULB)

‘Poor Flanders – Rich Wallonia’ (or vice versa)
Maarten VAN GINDERACHTER (UAntwerpen)
Axel TIXHON & Anne ROEKENS (UNamur)

WWI battlefield of memories?
Laurence VAN YPERSELE (UCLouvain)
Nico Wouters (CEGES)

17.55 Closing words by Paul DE GRAUWE (LSE & KU Leuven)

18.00 Reception