The Multidirectional memory connecting the Holocaust and French decolonization

Abstract

Memory studies have grown rapidly around the world since the late 20th century. Past memory studies in history assumed that politics of memory is a struggle of different collective memories over limited resources. In the past, they have mainly assumed that competitive memory models, namely memory politics, represent a competition among victim groups over limited resources (social recognition and compensation from the state). In particular, as the memories of the Holocaust have been highlighted intensively internationally, it was considered that Holocaust memories were given a privileged status compared to other memories. However recent studies such as Michael Rothberg’s multidirectional memory attempts to illuminate the interconnections of different memories of wars and violence for the sake of new mnemonic solidarity. Based on his memory theory, this article focused on the memories of the Holocaust and those of decolonization (in particular the Algerian War context). By engaging the case of the Affaire Maurice Papon (1997-98), this essay offers the implications of multidirectional memory theories for today’s politics of memory and the relationship between history and memory. The rationale is that the Papon trial is considered one of the best examples of the connection between the memories and history of World War II and the decolonization war in French West Africa. In the conclusion, this paper examines the limitations and possibilities of multidirectional memory theory through the above process.