From 10–12 June 2026, the Faculty of Arts at Charles University hosted the interdisciplinary student conference “Choosing the Past: The Manifestation of History in a Changing Public Sphere,” organised by the Department of East European Studies, the Boris Nemtsov Academic Center, the Faculty of Arts, and the Department of Historical Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University. The event was organized in part by Faculty of Humanities' Mgr. Alena Marková, Ph.D.
Over the course of three days, the conference brought together 53 young scholars from 22 countries, creating a truly international space for dialogue, exchange, and critical reflection on the role of history in contemporary societies.
We were especially pleased to welcome 27 participants in person, representing Charles University, other Czech universities, as well as researchers who travelled from Germany, Hungary, Serbia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Poland, Georgia, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Romania. Additional presenters joined us online from Portugal, Latvia, Finland, Morocco, Algeria, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, the Philippines, and France.
The conference explored how societies remember, reinterpret, and mobilise the past in a rapidly changing public sphere. Participants examined the role of cultural memory in shaping identities, political and social belonging, and nation-building through monuments, education, media, literature, public debates, and digital platforms. Special attention was given to the relationship between memory and power, gendered perspectives on history, marginalised voices, and the growing influence of digital culture, demonstrating how historical narratives continue to be negotiated and contested across contemporary societies.
Throughout the conference, we had the privilege of listening to outstanding presentations by talented young researchers whose work combined methodological originality and intellectual curiosity. Their contributions generated lively discussions that brought together diverse disciplinary approaches, national perspectives, and theoretical frameworks. The conversations that emerged often crossed geographical, cultural, and political boundaries, demonstrating the value of international academic exchange and the importance of dialogue in understanding the many ways societies engage with the past.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all presenters, chairs, discussants and attendees for making this conference such a stimulating and inspiring event. Your enthusiasm, thoughtful contributions, and willingness to engage in open discussion created an atmosphere of genuine scholarly collaboration. We hope that the connections, ideas, and conversations initiated during these three days will continue to develop in future research and cooperation.
Here are some photos from the conference:
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Charles University
Faculty of Humanities
Pátkova 2137/5
182 00 Praha 8 - Libeň
Czech Republic
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