Publication

Peter Aronsson (Eunamus lead & editor), Simon Knell (work package lead & editor) and the Eunamus consortium. 2012. National Museums Making Histories in a Diverse Europe, Eunamus Report No. 7, Linköping University Press, Linköping.

About

This report brings together the final conclusions of the Eunamus consortium. Eunamus sought to understand how European national history museums might contribute to a more socially cohesive Europe.

Access

Full free access via the link above or by clicking the download button below. This is the final dissemination report of the Eunamus project. It is richly illustrated, succinct and accessible.

Outline

Introduction

National museums in a changing Europe

What is a national museum?

National Museum as Medium

National museums give the nation concrete form

National museums stage performances for psychological effect

Elites speaking to elites

National museums are about history

National museums give reassurance in a changing world

National Museum Histories

National museums adopt two representational strategies

National museums deploy three narrative perspectives

National museum narratives are constrained by the political complexion of the nation

National museums produce necessary histories

National museum silences deny citizenship to minorities

National museum narratives play on empathy and emotion

National museums narrate reconciliation

European histories are faceted and hegemonic

Conclusion: National Museums, History and a Socially Cohesive Europe