30 Mar Panel discussion “In Defence of History”
On Friday, March 12th, starting from 7pm a panel discussion entitled “In Defence of History” was held in Novinarski dom in Zagreb, Croatia. Due to the measures against the spread of the coronavirus, the number of guests was limited to 25, but the whole event was live streamed on the KrokodilEngagingWords youtube channel for a much more numerous audience of approximately 1100 people.
After the successful realization of the project “Who started all this? – Historians against Revisionism” and the last conference held in June of 2020 where the declaration “Defend History” was presented, the discussion about historical revisionism in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and the misuse of history for political means was continued via two panel discussions held in Belgrade on November 28th 2020 and in Zagreb on March 12th 2021, respectively.
The idea behind these events was to hear prominent voices that do not belong exclusively to historians as well as to promote the “Defend History” declaration.
Participants in the March 12th panel discussion were musician and television presenter Ida Prester, journalist and writer Miljenko Jergović, film director Dana Budisavljević and writer, film director and screenwriter Goran Vojnović. Moderator was historian Tvrtko Jakovina. The conversation was further enriched by the comments from many prominent regional historians such as Dubravka Stojanović, Husnija Kamberović, Damir Agičić, among others, who were present in the audience.
The main topic of this discussion was how history affects all of us (non-historians) and how it defines our everyday life as well as what kind of perspective and outlook on history, especially recent history, is needed on the regional level. It was pointed out that history should not be left only to historians and that writers, journalists, artists also have a role in shaping historical narratives. Ultimately history should be of concern to all citizens since we are all part of it. In that sense this panel discussion was also a call to action to people from the Western Balkan region to become more actively involved and to engage in reflection about our shared past.
The project “Who started all this? – Historians against revisionism” has brought together the most prominent historians from the Balkan region with the intent of actively fighting against revisionist tendencies in regional historiographies, and fighting for one possible, common, multiperspective historiography.
This event was realised with the help of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Serbia, with the forum ZFD as implementing partner.
After the successful realization of the project “Who started all this? – Historians against Revisionism” and the last conference held in June of 2020 where the declaration “Defend History” was presented, the discussion about historical revisionism in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and the misuse of history for political means was continued via two panel discussions held in Belgrade on November 28th 2020 and in Zagreb on March 12th 2021, respectively.
The idea behind these events was to hear prominent voices that do not belong exclusively to historians as well as to promote the “Defend History” declaration.
Participants in the March 12th panel discussion were musician and television presenter Ida Prester, journalist and writer Miljenko Jergović, film director Dana Budisavljević and writer, film director and screenwriter Goran Vojnović. Moderator was historian Tvrtko Jakovina. The conversation was further enriched by the comments from many prominent regional historians such as Dubravka Stojanović, Husnija Kamberović, Damir Agičić, among others, who were present in the audience.
The main topic of this discussion was how history affects all of us (non-historians) and how it defines our everyday life as well as what kind of perspective and outlook on history, especially recent history, is needed on the regional level. It was pointed out that history should not be left only to historians and that writers, journalists, artists also have a role in shaping historical narratives. Ultimately history should be of concern to all citizens since we are all part of it. In that sense this panel discussion was also a call to action to people from the Western Balkan region to become more actively involved and to engage in reflection about our shared past.
The project “Who started all this? – Historians against revisionism” has brought together the most prominent historians from the Balkan region with the intent of actively fighting against revisionist tendencies in regional historiographies, and fighting for one possible, common, multiperspective historiography.
This event was realised with the help of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Serbia, with the forum ZFD as implementing partner.
Photos of the event are available HERE.
Audio coverage on KROKODIL podcast follow HERE
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