Polarized Pasts: Heritage and Belonging in Times of Political Polarization (Explorations in Heritage Studies Book 8)

When questions of belonging enter the forefront of political debates, so too does heritage. This volume draws critical voices from archaeology, anthropology and the classics into a conversation about political uses of the past in times of radical right populism. The authors show how ancient monuments and sites, bygone eras and political regimes, and even your genetic ancestry, can become wrapped up in polarized political debates. They also highlight how heritage, which is often thought of as a common good, can be dangerous in times of political polarization – erasing nuances between 'us' and 'them'. Together, the texts pave the way for a better understanding of the political role of heritage in society. Contents Figures INTRODUCTION Heritage and Belonging in Times of Political Polarization CHAPTER 1 Heritage, Memory, Race: The Culture of the Far Right CHAPTER 2 Innocence Reinvented: Far-Right Myth-Making in Hungary CHAPTER 3 Possessive Pasts: Heritage in Far-Right Rhetoric in Scandinavia CHAPTER 4 ‘Western Civilization’, White Supremacism and the Myth of a White Ancient Greece CHAPTER 5 Memory between Repression and Deception: Germany’s Shattered Stratigraphies CHAPTER 6 Walking through the Darkest Valley: Heritage and Hatred in the Era of Reactionary Populism CHAPTER 7 Is DNA a Dangerous Heritage? CHAPTER 8 The Sigtuna Debacle: A Story of Ancient DNA, Immigrants and Fake News in a Viking Age Town in Sweden CHAPTER 9 The Threat of Essence: Reflections on the Heritage of Racism and the Racism of Heritage Index "When questions of belonging enter the forefront of political debates, so too does heritage. From different ends at the political spectrum, people invoke the past to validate their stance on immigration, equality and security. In the wake of European crises and a polarized US political landscape, heritage is invoked to both halt and embrace immigration, as well as to resist and further globalization. Essays demonstrate how ancient monuments and sites, bygone eras and political regimes, even your genetic ancestry, can become wrapped up in polarized political debates. Together, the texts pave the way for a better understanding of the role of the heritage in society"-- Provided by publisher