Heritage, public history and democracy

This paper examines the complex relationship between heritage, public history and democracy, arguing that heritage is not a neutral transmission of the past but a contested, constructed and politically charged process. Drawing on critical heritage studies and public history scholarship, the...

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Main Authors: Ničić Miloš, Iguman-Glušac Sanja
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, Belgrade 2025-01-01
Series:Filozofija i Društvo
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2025/0353-57382502521N.pdf
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author Ničić Miloš
Iguman-Glušac Sanja
author_facet Ničić Miloš
Iguman-Glušac Sanja
author_sort Ničić Miloš
collection DOAJ
description This paper examines the complex relationship between heritage, public history and democracy, arguing that heritage is not a neutral transmission of the past but a contested, constructed and politically charged process. Drawing on critical heritage studies and public history scholarship, the text evaluates how dynamic memory practices can both empower communities and reinforce existing power structures. Special attention is paid to the concept of dissonant heritage, which challenges singular narratives by exposing the omissions, silences and exclusions inherent in heritage-making processes. In contexts where democratic institutions are fragile or delegitimised, the paper identifies grassroots, bottom-up heritage initiatives as spaces for civic interventions and resistance. This work advocates participatory and reflective heritage practices, positioning heritage and public history as essential tools for democratic engagement and future-oriented cultural governance.
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language deu
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, Belgrade
record_format Article
series Filozofija i Društvo
spelling doaj-art-0e6ba039bd3c4f398bcce5b260aeea6d2025-08-20T03:09:25ZdeuInstitute for Philosophy and Social Theory, BelgradeFilozofija i Društvo0353-57382334-85772025-01-0136252153610.2298/FID2502521N0353-57382502521NHeritage, public history and democracyNičić Miloš0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4296-7351Iguman-Glušac Sanja1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9092-5741Faculty of Political Science, University of BelgradeInstitute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of BelgradeThis paper examines the complex relationship between heritage, public history and democracy, arguing that heritage is not a neutral transmission of the past but a contested, constructed and politically charged process. Drawing on critical heritage studies and public history scholarship, the text evaluates how dynamic memory practices can both empower communities and reinforce existing power structures. Special attention is paid to the concept of dissonant heritage, which challenges singular narratives by exposing the omissions, silences and exclusions inherent in heritage-making processes. In contexts where democratic institutions are fragile or delegitimised, the paper identifies grassroots, bottom-up heritage initiatives as spaces for civic interventions and resistance. This work advocates participatory and reflective heritage practices, positioning heritage and public history as essential tools for democratic engagement and future-oriented cultural governance.https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2025/0353-57382502521N.pdfdemocracyfutureheritagepastpublic history
spellingShingle Ničić Miloš
Iguman-Glušac Sanja
Heritage, public history and democracy
Filozofija i Društvo
democracy
future
heritage
past
public history
title Heritage, public history and democracy
title_full Heritage, public history and democracy
title_fullStr Heritage, public history and democracy
title_full_unstemmed Heritage, public history and democracy
title_short Heritage, public history and democracy
title_sort heritage public history and democracy
topic democracy
future
heritage
past
public history
url https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2025/0353-57382502521N.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT nicicmilos heritagepublichistoryanddemocracy
AT igumanglusacsanja heritagepublichistoryanddemocracy