Annual Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability 2018 Program Report 2018 Program Report : A Cover: 2018 AHDA Fellows on the steps of Low Library, Columbia University. Table of Contents Forward . 2 Introduction .. 3 Digital Presence . 4 Events, Initiatives, and Collaborations . 6 The Fellowship Program . 7 Sarah C. Bishop ............................................8 Nicolas Habarugira ........................................10 Korab Krasniqi ............................................12 Samantha Nyasha Mandiveyi ...............................14 Linda J. Mann .............................................16 Kartika Pratiwi ............................................18 Bayar Sevdeen ...........................................20 Joanna Talewicz-Kwiatkowska ............................. 22 Latife Uluçinar ........................................... 24 Washington, DC Trip . 26 Workshops & Seminars . 27 Institute for the Study of Human Rights . 32 2018 Program Report : 1 Forward he Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Ac- their efforts to address protracted conflicts, primarily countability (AHDA) program has concluded because it is viewed as too complicated. Resolving Tone more successful fellowship year. This year conflicting narratives in a post truth society is becom- the program took place in the face of exasperating po- ing increasingly challenging, and this is where greater litical atmosphere. As populism continues to challenge attention has to be paid to historical dialogue. democracies, narratives of contested and falsified his- torical memories are exploited to promote policies of The tension between growing right-wing xenophobia nativism and xenophobia, to promote sectarian and which ignores ethical considerations focusing on xe- nationalist interests, and to sow divisions among dif- nophobia versus the concurrent expansion of redress ferent identity groups. Concurrently, historical mem- discourse and politics, characterizes the ambivalence ory is becoming ever more central to public discourse of human rights place in the contemporary political and to policy makers. As historical narratives come to discourse in general: more central than ever, yet being ethically define the identity of the group, it is through criticized both by friends and foes. Historical dialogue disputes over historical accounts — often frame the is a long term process, and the AHDA program focuses ethics of victims and perpetrators — which provide on supporting activists around the globe who promote the context for debates of justice and human rights. redress as a way to advocate social justice policies. From the Rohingya in Burma (who are now mostly displaced in Bangladesh) to the Roma in Central East AHDA aims to provide support to a group of fellows Europe and numerous post-colonial disputes, the his- each year who can enhance their own knowledge on torical interpretation is used to justify the claims of the field, establish networks with like-minded activists, the protagonists. Similarly, various diplomatic disputes both peers, alumni and other activists, and develop revolve around historical narratives inflame and shape existing or new projects. In addition to working with assertions for entitlements and counter political de- current fellows and alumni, AHDA develops tools such mands. Consider this year the conflict between Poland as mapping global project which enable activists to and Israel, or domestically and internationally in Turkey, locate similar projects globally, and benefit for others’ to mention just a couple of prominent cases. experience, bibliography database, political apologies database, and organizing annual conferences to facili- Historical disputes which used to be politically mar- tate interactions and networking for a global audience. ginal are increasingly occupying the center of the po- litical discourse. Consider the question of reparation This year Fellows have come from Indonesia, Iraq, for slavery. For a generation, representative John Co- Kosovo, Poland, Rwanda, Turkey, USA and Zimbabwe. nyers has repeatedly introduced in the U.S. House of This diverse background together with close collegi- Representatives Judiciary Committee H.R. 40, a bill ality have enabled the Fellows to benefit from close that would establish a commission to study slavery interaction and rich comparative perspectives. The re- impact on its victims. The bill never got out of commit- port below lays out the numerous occasions and ways tee, it remained ignored. Not so any longer. By 2019, in which the fellowship expanded their experiences the question of reparations is receiving support from with historical dialogue. Presidential candidates, and increasingly people are called upon to have an opinion on the subject. Similarly, We could not have done it without our partners and museums in possession of looted cultural objects – funders: Robert Bosch Stiftung; the Auschwitz Insti- primarily African and indigenous objects — which had tute; Georgetown Memory Project; Columbia Univer- been treated as either art or anthropological treasures, sity Center for Human Rights Documentation and are facing growing demands for restitution, and more museums are adopting responsive policies. Historical Research; Columbia University Seminars on History, dialogue is a collective designation to these and many Redress and Reconciliation; Columbia University Sem- other fields from education to cultural representations, inar on Cultural Memory, and The Heyman Center for which engage historical memory with contemporary the Humanities at Columbia University. controversial political stands. We invite you to connect with us, individually and in- Historical dialogue is also critical in preventing contem- stitutionally, and together we can further the cause porary and anticipated mass violence and atrocities. In of historical dialogue as a tool of redress and conflict some cases, previous mass atrocities are predictive of resolution. imminent conflict, in others a seemingly assurance of never again. Conflict resolution professionals seem to Elazar Barkan, incorporate the past as a risk factor but tend to over- Director, Institute for the Study of Human Rights look issues of historical justice and group memory in Professor of International and Public Affairs 2 : Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability Introduction he Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Ac- countability (AHDA) is an innovative approach Tthat brings together interdisciplinary partici- pants - students, civil society representatives, journal- ists, educators, artists, policy makers, and other schol- ars - who work on the issues of historical dialogue in conflict, post-conflict, post-dictatorial societies and, even, in established democracies. These individuals focus on political ramifications of the historical legacy of conflicts, along the role and impact of the memory of past violence on contemporary politics, society and culture. The AHDA program has grown over the years and is continuing to attract interest beyond main stakeholders in recognition that addressing violent past and conflicting narratives about the past is in- tegral in the work of reconciliation and democracy promotion. The AHDA program is unique. It is created from various components that weave together wide spectrum of re- search and practice. First, the program uses available resources at Columbia University through classes, workshops, film screenings and speaker series. Sec- ond, AHDA has an extensive virtual network of schol- ars, students and practitioners who build the knowl- edge database online and in-person. Third, AHDA organizes a flagship conference that permits individ- ual researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas, Fellows on the steps of Low Library, practice and research with others in the field. Fourth, Columbia University AHDA is at the forefront of advancing research by using contemporary means. The digital initiative - the Mapping Historical Dialogue Project (MHDP) - serves orations initiated at the University continue long after as a tool to identify work being done in the field and the program ends. is a collective resource for best practices and con- tributes to understanding of the impact of historical The work of the AHDA program represents diversity dialogue initiatives in the field of conflict transforma- of initiatives in the field of historical dialogue. It takes tion. Fifth, AHDA alumni are playing a pivotal role in place in various disciplines such as journalism, educa- forming program’s activities. In the future, AHDA will tion, history, oral history, new media and many others. be focusing on expanding the Regional Network for All AHDA activities contribute to the goal of expand- Historical Dialogue and Dealing with the Past (RN- ing public discussion about the past; understanding HDP) and it will develop geographically specific re- the instrumental use of history and providing a frame- gional networks. work for communities to reflect, share and debate on their past in the quest for a more democratic future. Finally, AHDA’s signature fellowship continues to wel- come to Columbia University an international group By supporting our work AHDA fellows, alumni, partic- of practitioners and scholars working in fragile envi- ipants, contributors and various other stakeholders, ronments and with vulnerable populations. The fel- emphasize that this work is integral part of reconcili- lows benefit from the curriculum, capacity building, ation and democracy promotion. We are grateful for project