Monuments of and to the Past: The Politics of Heritage in Interwar Balkans, Russia, and Turkey

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

What role did architectural monuments play in shaping historical memory and national identity in interwar Eastern Europe? How were heritage and national narratives showcased at international exhibitions, in war memorials, and through preservation policies? This panel takes a broad geographical approach to examine the promotion, preservation, and display of monuments in diverse yet interconnected contexts, highlighting their crucial role in defining the identities of new interwar states.
Balancing the intrinsic power of historical architecture with its role in conveying both regional and national identities, the panel brings together four case studies. The first paper offers a comparative analysis of Yugoslavia and Romania, exploring how they integrated newly acquired, diverse architectural legacies into their national narratives after 1918. The second paper investigates the institutionalization of memorialization in Romania, focusing on the role of public monuments—particularly in rural areas—in shaping a state-controlled nationalist discourse. The third paper examines early Soviet monument protection (1917–1939), revealing the ideological tensions between destruction and preservation, with a focus on the Solovetsky Monastery’s survival despite its transformation into a Gulag. The final paper explores Turkey’s architectural representation at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, illustrating the complex relationship between modern nation-building and the preservation of historical heritage.
By bringing together these diverse perspectives, this panel sheds light on the political, ideological, and cultural forces that shaped the treatment of architectural heritage across the interwar Balkans, Russia, and Turkey.

Sub Unit

• Arts I: Visual Culture, Material Culture, Applied and Fine Arts

Chair

• Cosmin Koszor Codrea, New Europe College

Papers

• The Preservation of the Architectural Heritage in Interwar Yugoslavia and Romania - Cosmin Tudor Minea, Masaryk U (Czech Republic)

• Public Monuments and Identity Politics in Interwar Romania - Laura Demeter, U of Bamberg (Germany)

• Early Soviet Monument Protection (1917–1939) - Katharina Schwinde, Ettersberg Foundation (Germany)

• Exhibiting Modern Turkey in the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair - Semra Horuz, Bilkent U (Turkey)

Discussant

• Marta Filipova, Masaryk U (Czech Republic)