Another seminar as part of the Rethinking Leadership. Oxford Series is behind us! This time we tackled the topic “The Burden of Memory: How can we build solidarity when our memories clash?” together with our guests and partners.
On October 27 at Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford, we were honored to continue our “Rethinking Leadership” seminar series. This time we focused on the difficult issues of building solidarity despite the differing historical memories of social, ethnic and national groups.
Our first speaker Dr. Robert Kostro, director of the Polish History Museum, introduced the audience to the multifaceted nature of the relationship between history and contemporary politics, explaining the role of history as cultivated and nurtured by nation-states practicing the politics of memory. History is seen and interpreted through the prism of collective identities, from which different visions of the same events are born. This, however, does not invalidate these differences, but rather should be the starting point for a genuine dialogue.
Prof. Richard Butterwick-Pawlikowski described in detail the memory of the partition of the Republic and the changing reception of the May 3, 1791 Constitution among Poles and Lithuanians historically and today. We understood why the attitudes of the two nations are often so different in their interpretation of their long shared history. Professor Butterwick-Pawlikowski also dared to offer a perspective in which the reforms of the late Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth are the “untrodden path” to the 19th century; a path to modernity that almost managed to bypass the danger of absolutism on the way to shaping a political system based on ordered liberty.
Lord John Alderdice spoke of the long and arduous process of healing national memories from historical trauma. According to him, the past is not to be overcome or forgotten, but rather accepted. Since we can only add a better present to the past, but never replace it, forgiveness is possible, but always on the basis of conscious acceptance of historical truth. True leadership that is able to guide this process does not try to force forgiveness or transformation on others, but inspires them to do so based on the integral example of the leader in question.
At the end of the seminar, participants asked questions, showing interest in both the topic and its relevance. Are memory and history the same thing or not? How does modern social media affect memory? What is the role of emotions in shaping memory? Is history doomed to become a permanent point of contention between nations and minorities?
The topic of our meeting this time was exceptionally difficult, however, our guests rose to the challenge and presented convincing arguments for solidarity, forgiveness and dialogue.
The seminar could not have taken place without the support of the Museum of Polish History, the Center for Democracy and Peace Building, the Oxford Polish Association, and the Polish National Foundation – thank you!
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