Moses Mendelssohn as lieu de mémoire in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Fellows' Seminar

The formation of collective memory is an integral part of the cultural history of modern Europe. But with few exceptions the literature has concentrated on various national memories and lieux de mémoire. It is also mostly presentist, i.e. focusing on most recent debates about the past.

The key innovation of the project is that it combines a long durée perspective with a transnational approach that is a prerequisite to analyze processes of exchange within and between various European societies and places of emigration such as the United States and Palestine and Israel. The case study on Moses Mendelssohn can be viewed as paradigmatic. The Jewish enlightenment philosopher was among the first intellectuals in Europe who were commemorated in such an intensive and variegated way.

Martina Steer is an ÖAW APART Fellow (History) and currently an IWM Visiting Fellow.