A panel discussion on the role of the past in the present
Is nostalgia merely emotional retrospection – or can historical references be powerful tools for understanding the world around us? A Canadian prime minister once warned against seeking solutions in idealised versions of the past. Yet the question remains: what if history has more to offer than longing?
With four experts from different fields, this debate explores how history and memory shape Danish, German, and European culture, politics, and media. The panelists share their perspectives on why the past matters so much right now – and how it shapes our visions of the future.
Panelists:
- Asser Amdisen – Danish historian and host of the DR podcast Kampen om historien (The Battle for History)
- Zoé Elkær Nicot – Co-founder of the European Debate Initiative and Chair of the Board of the NGO Nyt Europa
- Christian Schwarzenegger – Professor of Media and Communication at the University of Bremen, researching media change, memory, and right-wing communication
- Marie Meier – Researcher at the University of Copenhagen, author exploring historical discourses on mental illness and Danish welfare
Where and when: University Library in Fiolstræde, Fiolstræde 1, 1171 Copenhagen K. Doors open approximately 20 minutes before the event begins.
