At a time when historical narratives are increasingly weaponised in political conflicts, a pressing question arises: how does memory function in an era of geopolitical tension, hybrid warfare, and growing polarisation within European societies? The 14th European Remembrance Symposium, organised by the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS), seeks to address precisely this challenge.
Held on 27–29 May 2026 at the Art Nouveau Moyzes Hall of the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava, the Symposium will examine the antagonistic potential of collective memory and the ways in which it is instrumentalised in contemporary politics.
Memory shapes communities, sustains identities, and provides moral frameworks — yet it can also divide, becoming both the object and the instrument of political struggle, and, in the context of hybrid warfare, a strategic weapon. As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues and disinformation campaigns intensify, the interpretation of history has become a central arena of contemporary power struggles.
Among the key questions addressed are:
– Which areas of social life are most vulnerable to manipulation through historical
narratives?
– Through which media, institutions, and cultural forms are memory-based
strategies implemented?
– Are memory conflicts a particular feature of post-authoritarian Eastern Europe, or
are they inherent to democratic societies more broadly?
– Eighty years after the Second World War and over three decades since the end of the Cold War, is European memory shared — or divided?
The opening keynote by Prof. Catherine Horel, Research Director at CNRS/CETOBAC-Paris and President of the International Committee for Historical Sciences, will frame the interplay between memory, power, and conflict, launching three days of panels, workshops, and case studies on disinformation, education, and hybrid warfare. Practical sessions will equip participants with tools to critically assess and counter manipulated narratives.
A distinctive feature of the programme is the Turbo Presentations session, offering institutions 120 seconds to present their work to an international audience. Cultural visits in Bratislava will further situate the debate within the region’s layered historical landscape.
Please note that the participation in the Symposium is free of charge. ENRS provides catering during the official programme; however, travel and accommodation expenses are not covered by the organisers.
More information about the Symposium can be found here: European Remembrance Symposium 2026 | ENRS.
The registration for the event is already opened and can be found here: Registration Form for the 14th European Remembrance Symposium.
Shorts about ENRS
The European Network Remembrance and Solidarity ENRS, a Warsaw based NGO, is an international initiative that aims to research, document and disseminate knowledge about 20-th century European history and ways of commemorating it with a particular focus on the period of dictatorships, wars and social resistance to captivity.
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The members of the Network are Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary, while representatives of Albania, Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Georgia also serve on its advisory boards”, according to ENRS website.
ENRS organizes various events such as conferences, symposia, exhibitions, discussions, and educational projects. It also publishes academic books. The topics of the institution’s events focus on European history.
Picture courtesy of ENRS
