European University Legacies : Problematic Heritage and Contemporary Practice

Explores problematic university heritage in Europe interrogating both historical legacies and contemporary practice.

This book challenges straightforward narratives of universities as sites of intellectual progress and societal development, bringing into the debate the remembrances of colonial pasts, material legacies, racialized inequalities and problematic histories. It offers a decentered deep-dive into, and comparative perspective on, the different kinds of university heritage values in both tangible and intangible forms. The book seeks to shed light on how European university heritage is problematized and acknowledged in terms of epistemic reparation and redress. Rather than taking the idea of Europe for granted, editors and contributors opt for an inclusive perspective that acknowledges diversity of positionalities and experiences in different political and historical contexts. By bringing such perspectives together, the book encourages connection and cross-thematic learning on topics such as colonialism, authoritarianism, racism and misogyny.