Conférence Johana WYSS - Mnemonic Exclusion and the Politics of Memory: A Case Study of the Velvet Revolution

Title: Mnemonic Exclusion and the Politics of Memory: A Case Study of the Velvet Revolution

Abstract:
In my talk, I will explore the concept of mnemonic exclusion, focusing on how the Velvet Revolution is remembered 35 years after it took place. Drawing on two rounds of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in November 2019 and November 2024, I will examine the ways in which large sections of the population are symbolically excluded from the public narrative surrounding the revolution. Through an analysis of commemoration events, semi-structured interviews, and public discourse, I will highlight the politics of exclusion, focusing on groups that remain absent in the collective memory of the Czech/Slovak transition. I argue that this mnemonic exclusion extends beyond mere forgetting, fostering a deeper form of social marginalization and political polarization. In the context of contemporary Czech political polarization, my research sheds light on the intersection of historical memory, populism, and identity, offering a critical perspective on memory politics in modern Europe. This case study is part of a broader ethnographic project titled Memory and Populism from Below, which examines the influence of collective remembrance on populist movements and identity politics across various European borderlands, including Bukovina, Burgenland, Silesia, Istria and Galicia (Poland/Ukraine).