Session: #483

Content:

In the EAA session ‘Archaeology and the European Far-right’, held in Maastricht in 2017, we asked participants to tell us about the rise of far-right political movements in the countries where they live and work. We wanted to know about far-right heritage policies as well as attitudes and responses among archaeologists and heritage officials. Could we soon be facing a situation where civil servants had to choose between political compliance and ideals of inclusive and decolonized practices?
In this session we seek to revisit and extend this discussion. There are two important reasons for this. The first is to evaluate continuity and change. Six years down the line, the far-right momentum seems to have fizzled in some places, like with the criminalization of Golden Dawn in Greece and the declining influence of UKIP in the UK. Elsewhere, like in France, Italy, and Sweden, it has persisted, accompanied by political proposals to establish national canons, to celebrate fascist symbols, and to increase protection and funding for archaeology and historical monuments. How, if at all, have archaeologists and heritage officials adapted to this? Six years later, we also find a new research trend in archaeology and heritage studies that examines the uses of the past in contemporary far-right politics and the reception of their narratives in the public space. What can we learn form this new research direction as a whole? And what is the next step, after educating the field and sector about these explicit archaeopolitical connections?
We invite contributions that, in 6 slides and 6 minutes, update, reflect, exemplify, theorize, and explain current intersections between archaeology/heritage and reactionary, radical, and populist right-wing movements in Europe and beyond.

Session: #483

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