In early December, our entire team had the opportunity to participate in the conference Memory and Populism from the Margins held in Prague. The event was organized by the ERC project Memory and Populism from Below (MEMPOP), lead by Johana Wyss at the Institute of Ethnology, Czech Academy of Sciences. Participants from across Europe and beyond gathered for their sessions in the stunning neo-Renaissance Villa Lanna, owned by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
Karina delivered a presentation on the “Sudeten Card,” engaging with participants to explore why and how the residents of post-displacement regions in the Czech Republic are often perceived as particularly prone to populism.
Michal examined the construction of lapidaria, a place where historical stone architectural elements (e.g. parts of cemetery gravestones) are collected and displayed, dedicated to former German inhabitants in West Pomerania, questioning whether this phenomenon could be considered a fashion.
Karolina, in turn, highlighted how events of past and presents might intersect with the narratives of subsequent generations of settlers to Polish Recovered Territories who have family roots in the Eastern Borderlands. Magdalena, on the other hand, took diligent notes, found inspiration, and reflected on how these discussions could inform her research centered on the sacred.
Our team was further strengthened by the participation of Ewa Wróblewska-Trochimiuk from the Institute of Slavic Studies, to which our project is affiliated. Ewa’s presentation focused on the Belgrade waterfront, offering insights into how visual strategies are employed to promote populist narratives in Serbia. We were delighted to have Ewa with us, as hearing diverse perspectives is always enriching–especially since Balkan issues were a recurring topic throughout the conference. Naturally, the discussions extended beyond the sessions, continuing during breaks and informal moments. While the Balkans may not be our primary research focus, we wholeheartedly support Ewa and her fellow scholars in their important work.
The conference not only inspired thoughtful reflection on the nature of populism and its diverse manifestations but also offered valuable insights into the transformations of post-displacement areas following 1945. We are truly delighted to have been part of this event and extend our best wishes to the MEMPOP project for fruitful research. We sincerely hope this is just the beginning of our collaboration and not the last opportunity to connect.