https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/L_GCBAGES200The course Decolonizing Europe. History and Memory has both historical and methodological learning objectives. After the course, participantsunderstand the main approaches to the political history of the European nation-state and are able to situate leading historians in the historiographic debate on decolonization, postcolonialism and decoloniality;understand how the course themes of decolonization and national histories in Europe play out in the institutional setting of museums and the construction of public and political discourse in present-day societies; and will be able to write a critical appraisal of museum exhibitions and collections and their role in European postcolonial society;are able to critically review (in writing and speaking) a historical monograph, a work of fiction or a public/ political debate relevant to the course theme, and to develop an argued opinion about the issues at hand;can reflect on their own ‘subject position’, and explore the course theme from various perspectives while acknowledging different experiences with respect to European postcolonial society.The course focuses on the impact of European imperialism on the dynamics of nation-state formation with an emphasis on ‘postwar’ Europe. In 'Europe after Empire. Decolonization, Society and Culture' (first published in 2016) Elizabeth Buettner investigates the impact of decolonization on Europe. After 1945 all around the globe countries became independent, so what did that mean for Europe itself? How did these these events and developments shape politics and how are they remembered in present-day European societies? Therefore, the concept of multidirectional memory as developed by Michael Rothberg will be a point of departure in the course. Students will come across key political developments that played a major role in the repositioning of Europe in the international arena after colonialism such as:the reordering of European nation-states after 1945 and the impact of the Cold War on decolonization;the changes within Europe and between Europe and the ‘Third World’ as the result of decolonization;the relationship between decolonization, the founding of the EU and gradual European integration and, simultaneously, the emergence of major ambiguities within nation-states concerning the concept of multicultural society.How public memory and representation of the colonial pasts and the post-colonial presents is negotiated in present-day Europe.The course investigates how these developments interacted and can be traced in political and cultural developments, with particular attention to a better understanding of colonialism as a history with a deep influence on notions of belonging, inclusion and exclusion and with respect to citizenship at the national and European level. The colonial past not only ‘happened’ in the colonies, far away from Europe, but was also part of European history and still provides many different, contesting and opposing views and perspectives on the past and the making of contemporary society. Against the backdrop of a political history, this course will discuss how historians, philosophers, activists, politicians, writers, museum professionals and others approach this history within a national, European or global frame of reference.The course will consist of weekly lectures and seminars in which the themes of the course will be discussed. Students will present readings and lead discussions on topics they have prepared in small groups. A visit to a museum or a historical site is part of the course. All lectures and seminars will be in English.Class participation (10%); In class presentations and discussions (15%); museum report (25%); final written assignment (50%)The handbook used during this course is:Elizabeth Buettner, Europe after empire. Decolonization, society, and culture (Cambridge 2015).Additional literature will be assigned by lecturers.This course is an elective for BA 2 students History and International Studies; Students enrolled in the minor 'History'; exchange students.Basic knowledge of modern history for those students outside the Geschiedenis and History and International Studies programAll Information on the course schedule, additional literature, quizzes, polls and assignments will be posted on Canvas