Conflicting memories: representations of the colonial past among European and African youths

Abstract

Collective memory plays a crucial role on creating, maintaining or changing social identities (national, supranational, ethnic, etc.). Social representations of colonial past have an impact on how individuals make sense of present day postcolonial relations between European and African Countries, as well as on how they define themselves and the others. In this paper I examine social representations of the colonization and decolonization processes among young people from a former colonial power (Portugal) and young people from a former African colony (Guinea Bissau). I investigate hegemonic and controversial representations, the role of social identity, and collective emotions aroused by the most striking events related to colonial and post-colonial issues.