Memory, Pluralism and the Agony of Politics

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Acknowledgements

Some of the ideas for this paper developed from discussion surrounding a conference in Tallinn on ‘Different Memories, Common Future’. Eesti koostöö kogu, 21 November 2008. For helpful ideas and comments, my thanks to Mikko Lagerspetz, Eva-Clarita Onken, Eero Raun, and Johanna Söderholm.

Notes

Notes

1 Modeled on Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France, Dahrendorf's prescient reflections were written in the form of a letter. However, unlike Burke, Dahrendorf reflected on the positive aspects of the East European revolutions.

2 Ilves's speech as President has certain echoes of President von Weizsäcker's famous speech in Berlin commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of end of World War II on 8 May 1985. Both speeches rose above political rancor to emphasize the importance of historical analysis and public debate for the consolidation of democratic values. Both cautioned against using history as a tool for short-term political gain. The major difference between the two speeches was that while Weizsäcker's speech was widely received in West Germany and abroad, very little attention was paid to the substance of Ilves's speech.