Genealogies of Memory 2026 The Lasting Presence of the Past: How Trauma Lives on Across Generations?

Description

The 16th edition of the Genealogies of Memory conference, organised by the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS), brings together scholars from diverse disciplines to explore the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Taking place on 23–25 September 2026 in Iași, Romania, the conference asks how memories of violent and traumatic pasts are passed down, transformed, and reconstructed across generations — and what silences, ruptures, and reappropriations this process involves.With a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe in comparative perspective, the conference examines how postmemory, collaborative remembering, and archival documentation shape the second and third generations' engagement with events they did not directly experience. Discussions will address hegemonic memory narratives and counter-memories, artistic and reconstructive memory practices, and the challenges of digital mediation — including polarisation, echo chambers, and the manipulation of traumatic histories online. The event welcomes interdisciplinary proposals from historians, literary scholars, sociologists, psychologists, and other researchers working on memory, trauma, and transitional justice. Submissions are open until 3 May 2026.

How to apply

Submit your proposal via the online application form. Include an abstract and relevant details about your presentation. The deadline for submissions is 3 May 2026. Applicants will be notified of results in early June 2026. Written draft papers (2,000–2,500 words) are due by 31 August 2026. Contact: genealogies@enrs.eu