Human history is inextricably linked with attempts to preserve memory. Monuments, to which the present volume of State of Affairs is devoted, are a means to that end.
In many cultures, one of the events that was long considered most worthy of commemoration was a military victory – the defeat of an enemy. From earliest times, images of triumphant pharaohs, emperors, and kings have been created, and monuments to them have been erected. In this issue we reflect on the modern era’s characteristic turn from commemorating victorious rulers to honouring fallen victims – from erecting monuments to heroic individuals to erecting tombs for anonymously fallen soldiers. The turn reveals the profound change that has taken place within political systems. In the contemporary era, politics is more and more often conducted in the name of the victims, and the fallen are used for mobilisation, the garnering of support, and legitimation.
In this issue, the topic of attacks on monuments and their demolition is also addressed. The issue closes with an extensive review section containing, among other matters, a discussion of François Souchal’s book on the vandalism of the French Revolution.