Commemorations are interesting mirrors for the hegemonic narratives of the past, which do not necessarily correspond with popular historical consciousness. This is especially true for global anniversaries like May 8, 1945.
For decades, the West celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day to display its power and affirm its values. In this mindset, the West was not only powerful but also virtuous. This liturgy of liberal democracy ran smoothly and consensually, with all participants gathering around recollections, symbols, and values that forged their alliance.
In 1985, forty years after the end of the conflict, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) joined these commemorations. In a famous speech to the Bundestag, FRG president Richard von Weizsäcker solemnly said that Germany should not look upon this date as a day of defeat but rather as one of liberation.
After the end of the Cold War, VE Day meant the triumph of the West: capitalism, military strength, solid institutions, economic prosperity, and an enjoyable way of life. Some scholars spoke of a kind of Hegelian end of history, while others conjured up a Hollywoodian happy ending.
Today this comfortable ritual seems anachronistic, redolent of a bygone age. Eighty years after the fall of the Third Reich, fascism is coming back in Europe. Six EU countries — Italy, Finland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and the Czech Republic — have hard-right parties in government. Similar parties have become major actors throughout the European Union, from Germany to France and from Poland to Spain.
Eighty years after…
Auteur: Enzo Traverso
