Remembering pasts: historical-political adult education and remembrance in the migration society

Abstract

ABSTRACT The idea of one shared past, can develop identity-building potential. Nevertheless, there are diverse memory practices in plural societies and they are an expression of shared, divided, and conflicting memories. The negotiations of (diverse) past(s) and memories and, consequently, related belonging(s) to so-called ‘remembrance communities’ take place in historical-political adult education. The article explores the relationship between existing historical knowledge about the Holocaust and National socialist past, discursive practices of representation in remembering pasts, and the negotiation of belonging in historical-political adult education. Using the example of a German orientation course, the contribution indicates that (1) remembering is subject to specific social power relations; (2) that teachers and learners navigate in discursive exchange about histories between the (re-)production of national (state) structuring and the attempt to make diversity visible in historical references; (3) that language skills are central for participating in the production of remembrance; (4) that different stakeholders face diverse challenges in teaching and providing historical-political education for adult migrants. The article addresses a relevant and urgent issue in adult education in migration societies. It, therefore, contributes to providing initial insights into teaching and learning opportunities and challenges that arise in courses about the Holocaust and National socialism in migration societies.