Remembering the Violent Past in Ethnically Divided Societies

Abstract

How can remembrance initiatives engage the public in a collective exploration of their past when the dominant historical narratives within that public are deeply contested? How does engaging with commemorative efforts affect those living in post-conflict societies, and what role might museums play in dealing with such contested pasts? We address these research questions through a multi-method study in Northern Ireland, focusing on the Ulster Museum’s “Troubles and Beyond” exhibit. Curator interviews highlight challenges recounting the conflict due to its sensitive nature, prompting the decision to include multiple perspectives. Through visitor focus groups and surveys, we find the exhibit is perceived as balanced but elicits conflicting emotions. Our findings illustrate the complexity of public history in divided contexts, where establishing a unified narrative is challenging and resulting commemorations tend to be either politicized or cautious.