Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world

Past Event
Seminar

Shadows of Empire: Reshaping the Historical Memories of Non-Western Post-Imperial Successor States

Open to the Public

Scholars of the international system have commented that the world of the 21st century most closely resembles the world of empires in the 19th century with various regional powers carving out spheres of influence that often roughly correspond to their former imperial spaces. While the European norms enshrined in Westphalian principles have held, imperial baggage in a number of states shape the terrain and terms of nationalism still today.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come-first served basis.

Date: Time: - Location: Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369
The Ottoman-era Blue Mosque at sunset in Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 15, 2004. The European Parliament called on EU leaders to open membership talks with Turkey, but also urged Ankara to carry out more democratic reforms.

About

The reshaping of global order in which the "rise of the East" and a "return of history" has focused attention on the fundamental character of nation-states and the historical underpinnings of these actors. Scholars of the international system have commented that the world of the 21st century most closely resembles the world of empires in the 19th century with various regional powers carving out spheres of influence that often roughly correspond to their former imperial spaces. While the European norms enshrined in Westphalian principles have held, imperial baggage in a number of states shape the terrain and terms of nationalism still today. This phenomenon explored in Dr. Walker's research and defined as "imperial memories" draws from the systematic evaluation of changing narratives about former empires and offers a prism through which to view the resurgence of historical memories being seen in key progenies of empire today. Dr. Walker will present his recently defended dissertation that he is revising for a book manuscript along with several articles in which he lays out an argument and framework for understanding the evolution of successor states such as Japan and Turkey and two sets of ideas about their place in the world that can paradoxically co-exist within the historical memories of the empire.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come-first served basis.