On May 19, Annalena Groppe, research associate at the Peace Academy Rhineland-Palatinate, presented her research on conflicts of interpretation at Hambach Castle at the colloquium of the Leibniz Institute of European History in Mainz. Around 20 participants discussed how historical events are taken up, reinterpreted and appropriated in current political disputes.

From the perspective of conflict theory and peace education, the lecture showed how authoritarian-populist protests have been taking place around the anniversary of the Hambach Festival since 2018 and what challenges this poses for local civil society and local political actors. On the basis of an action research project with activists and educational actors from the region, it became clear how different understandings of democracy, peace and history become effective in these conflicts.

The exchange with the historians and international IEG fellows was particularly productive. Together they discussed possible follow-up projects: How can present-day conflicts of interpretation around historical places be researched from a historiographical perspective? What role do research and education play when places of remembrance are politically appropriated? And how can historical perspectives help to critically classify such appropriations?

Afterwards, further ideas were discussed in depth over drinks. It became clear that the political appropriation of historical sites poses professional and social challenges not only for civil society actors, but also for historians.

On May 19, Annalena Groppe, research associate at the Peace Academy Rhineland-Palatinate, presented her research on conflicts of interpretation at Hambach Castle at the colloquium of the Leibniz Institute of European History in Mainz. Around 20 participants discussed how historical events are taken up, reinterpreted and appropriated in current political disputes.

From the perspective of conflict theory and peace education, the lecture showed how authoritarian-populist protests have been taking place around the anniversary of the Hambach Festival since 2018 and what challenges this poses for local civil society and local political actors. On the basis of an action research project with activists and educational actors from the region, it became clear how different understandings of democracy, peace and history become effective in these conflicts.

The exchange with the historians and international IEG fellows was particularly productive. Together they discussed possible follow-up projects: How can present-day conflicts of interpretation around historical places be researched from a historiographical perspective? What role do research and education play when places of remembrance are politically appropriated? And how can historical perspectives help to critically classify such appropriations?

Afterwards, further ideas were discussed in depth over drinks. It became clear that the political appropriation of historical sites poses professional and social challenges not only for civil society actors, but also for historians.