BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Valedictory speech prof.dr. S. Legêne METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260220T154500 DTEND:20260220T171500 DTSTAMP:20260220T154500 UID:valedictory-speech-prof-dr-s-l@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260921T003950 LOCATION:Main building VU, 1105, Aula, De Boelelaan, 1081 HV, Amsterdam SUMMARY:Valedictory speech prof.dr. S. Legêne X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

(No) Peace with the Past: Politics of History Today

Why we need imagination a nd critical history in politics

Susan Legêne, professor of politica l history (2008-2025), discusses in her valedictory speech how all ar ound us history is being invoked in today’s political debates, comm emorative practices and heritage initiatives. History is being invoke d as an explanation for today, as a call to action, as an expression of longing for a past bygone, in sympathy for past authoritarianism o r as a warning to let history not repeat itself. 

In Decem ber 2025 EU President Ursula von der Leyen stated: ‘Yesterday's pea ce is gone. We have no time to indulge in nostalgia. What matters is – how we confront today. We cannot afford to let the world views of others define us.’ But what then defines us, what past-development s determine the world of today? In Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s epic poe m The perfect nine, Gĩkũyũ the progenitor expresses a core value t hat should define all of us: “Every human is human because of other humans.”
Read more in the news item

DESCRIPTION: (No) Peace with the Past: Politics of History Today

W hy we need imagination and critical history in politics

Susan Legêne, professor of political history (2008-2025), discusses in her valedict ory speech how all around us history is being invoked in today’s po litical debates, commemorative practices and heritage initiatives. Hi story is being invoked as an explanation for today, as a call to acti on, as an expression of longing for a past bygone, in sympathy for pa st authoritarianism or as a warning to let history not repeat itself.  In December 2025 EU President Ursula von der Leyen stated: ‘Y esterday's peace is gone. We have no time to indulge in nostalgia. Wh at matters is – how we confront today. We cannot afford to let the world views of others define us.’ But what then defines us, what pa st-developments determine the world of today? In Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’ o’s epic poem The perfect nine, Gĩkũyũ the progenitor expresses a core value that should define all of us: “Every human is human be cause of other humans.”
Read more in the news item END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR