European University Legacies - by Peter Bille Larsen & Markéta Kř & ízová (Paperback)

About the Book

Explores problematic university heritage in Europe interrogating both historical legacies and contemporary practice.

Book Synopsis

This book challenges straightforward narratives of universities as sites of intellectual progress and societal development, bringing into the debate the remembrances of colonial pasts, material legacies, racialized inequalities and problematic histories. It offers a decentered deep-dive into, and comparative perspective on, the different kinds of university heritage values in both tangible and intangible forms. The book seeks to shed light on how European university heritage is problematized and acknowledged in terms of epistemic reparation and redress. Rather than taking the idea of Europe for granted, editors and contributors opt for an inclusive perspective that acknowledges diversity of positionalities and experiences in different political and historical contexts. By bringing such perspectives together, the book encourages connection and cross-thematic learning on topics such as colonialism, authoritarianism, racism and misogyny.

Review Quotes

European University Legacies is a bold, courageous and necessary book. It critically examines some of the most difficult aspects of heritage in European universities, including the legacies of slavery, racism, authoritarianism and coloniality. By engaging with these conversations, the book encourages universities to confront the present and work toward more just and equitable futures.--Sophia Labadi, University of Kent

This collection explores university legacies and their complex entanglements of colonial, authoritarian and discriminatory pasts to address their difficult heritage. A very rich contribution to academia that provokes us to engage with discourses from our implicated past in these critical times.--Roberto Vecchi, University of Bologna