{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7171002116","doi":null,"title":"Beyond \u2018colonial amnesia\u2019: transformative postcolonial memory activism in Germany","display_name":"Beyond \u2018colonial amnesia\u2019: transformative postcolonial memory activism in Germany","publication_year":2025,"publication_date":"2025-07-09","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7171002116"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"pmh:oai:etheses.bham.ac.uk:16179","doi":null,"is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/16179/7/Kreft2025PhD.pdf","pdf_url":"http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/16179/7/Kreft2025PhD.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402357","display_name":"University of Birmingham Institutional Research Archive (University of Birmingham)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I79619799","host_organization_name":"University of Birmingham","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I79619799"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Thesis"},"volume":null,"type":"dissertation","is_traditional":true,"indexed_in":[],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/16179/7/Kreft2025PhD.pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5104168304","display_name":"Johanna Kreft","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Kreft, Johanna","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5104168304"],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12972","display_name":"German Colonialism and Identity Studies","score":0.9164999723434448,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1202","display_name":"History"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/12","display_name":"Arts and Humanities"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12972","display_name":"German Colonialism and Identity Studies","score":0.9164999723434448,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1202","display_name":"History"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/12","display_name":"Arts and Humanities"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11104","display_name":"Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration","score":0.06400000303983688,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3316","display_name":"Cultural Studies"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13484","display_name":"German History and Society","score":0.007699999958276749,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1202","display_name":"History"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/12","display_name":"Arts and Humanities"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/german-colonialism","display_name":"German colonialism","score":0.8799999952316284},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/memory-activism","display_name":"memory activism","score":0.8119999766349792},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/postcolonial-memory","display_name":"postcolonial memory","score":0.890999972820282},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/colonial-amnesia","display_name":"colonial amnesia","score":0.9399999976158142},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/grassroots-activism","display_name":"grassroots activism","score":0.8270000219345093},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/commemoration","display_name":"commemoration","score":0.546999990940094},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/street-renaming","display_name":"street renaming","score":0.5839999914169312},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/cultural-heritage-institutions","display_name":"cultural heritage institutions","score":0.5099999904632568},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/restitution","display_name":"restitution","score":0.5350000262260437},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ancestral-remains","display_name":"ancestral remains","score":0.8029999732971191},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/cultural-property","display_name":"cultural property","score":0.41200000047683716},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/walking-tours","display_name":"walking tours","score":0.6650000214576721},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/museums","display_name":"museums","score":0.34200000762939453},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/colonial-legacy","display_name":"colonial legacy","score":0.43700000643730164},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/germany","display_name":"Germany","score":0.375},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/west-germany","display_name":"West Germany","score":0.453000009059906},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/german-democratic-republic","display_name":"East Germany","score":0.5450000166893005},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/postcolonial-feminism","display_name":"postcolonial feminism","score":0.4180000126361847},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/standpoint-epistemology","display_name":"standpoint epistemology","score":0.7940000295639038}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2781188222","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q929651","display_name":"Grassroots","level":3,"score":0.9061999917030334},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2775992745","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6815763","display_name":"Memory work","level":2,"score":0.7328000068664551},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C70587473","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7834111","display_name":"Transformative learning","level":2,"score":0.6895999908447266},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144024400","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21201","display_name":"Sociology","level":0,"score":0.6341000199317932},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C132829578","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q581151","display_name":"Situated","level":2,"score":0.5943999886512756},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C531593650","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7167","display_name":"Colonialism","level":2,"score":0.590499997138977},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779204367","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q506259","display_name":"Direct action","level":3,"score":0.4740000069141388},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C123108692","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49773","display_name":"Social movement","level":3,"score":0.4731000065803528},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C108170787","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3951828","display_name":"Agency (philosophy)","level":2,"score":0.4138999879360199},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780791683","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q846785","display_name":"Action (physics)","level":2,"score":0.3919999897480011},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776007630","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2798912","display_name":"Accountability","level":2,"score":0.3750999867916107},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777688943","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3092681","display_name":"Feminism","level":2,"score":0.357699990272522},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C17744445","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q36442","display_name":"Political science","level":0,"score":0.3418000042438507},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C95124753","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q875686","display_name":"Environmental ethics","level":1,"score":0.3398999869823456},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C190248442","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839486","display_name":"Qualitative research","level":2,"score":0.33329999446868896},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C29595303","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q165650","display_name":"Media studies","level":1,"score":0.33320000767707825},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C107993555","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1662673","display_name":"Gender studies","level":1,"score":0.3228999972343445},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C154775046","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188","display_name":"German","level":2,"score":0.32280001044273376},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C109359841","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q728944","display_name":"Inclusion (mineral)","level":2,"score":0.2777999937534332},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C39549134","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133080","display_name":"Public relations","level":1,"score":0.26030001044273376},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C36289849","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34749","display_name":"Social science","level":1,"score":0.2581999897956848},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C18762648","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42213","display_name":"Work (physics)","level":2,"score":0.2581000030040741},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C87156501","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7268708","display_name":"Qualitative property","level":2,"score":0.2529999911785126}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"pmh:oai:etheses.bham.ac.uk:16179","doi":null,"is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/16179/7/Kreft2025PhD.pdf","pdf_url":"http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/16179/7/Kreft2025PhD.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402357","display_name":"University of Birmingham Institutional Research Archive (University of Birmingham)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I79619799","host_organization_name":"University of Birmingham","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I79619799"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Thesis"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"pmh:oai:etheses.bham.ac.uk:16179","doi":null,"is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/16179/7/Kreft2025PhD.pdf","pdf_url":"http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/16179/7/Kreft2025PhD.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402357","display_name":"University of Birmingham Institutional Research Archive (University of Birmingham)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I79619799","host_organization_name":"University of Birmingham","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I79619799"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Thesis"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"display_name":"Peace, justice, and strong institutions","id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/16","score":0.5473999977111816}],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":true,"pdf":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7171002116.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7171002116.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":135,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W341488565","https://openalex.org/W1488973119","https://openalex.org/W1965037246","https://openalex.org/W1965230191","https://openalex.org/W1969750220","https://openalex.org/W1974484203","https://openalex.org/W1978551044","https://openalex.org/W1979290264","https://openalex.org/W1979639339","https://openalex.org/W1979819547","https://openalex.org/W1988897142","https://openalex.org/W1994419642","https://openalex.org/W1998310567","https://openalex.org/W2003954820","https://openalex.org/W2008244423","https://openalex.org/W2008783039","https://openalex.org/W2014547996","https://openalex.org/W2045634950","https://openalex.org/W2048492079","https://openalex.org/W2049448242","https://openalex.org/W2053247119","https://openalex.org/W2055571836","https://openalex.org/W2055692368","https://openalex.org/W2060652854","https://openalex.org/W2063174018","https://openalex.org/W2074387318","https://openalex.org/W2087634729","https://openalex.org/W2101510824","https://openalex.org/W2105113140","https://openalex.org/W2109912665","https://openalex.org/W2112905230","https://openalex.org/W2114497837","https://openalex.org/W2139475959","https://openalex.org/W2145978888","https://openalex.org/W2149292904","https://openalex.org/W2155682547","https://openalex.org/W2156093876","https://openalex.org/W2158542841","https://openalex.org/W2160119656","https://openalex.org/W2162110018","https://openalex.org/W2165736276","https://openalex.org/W2221694848","https://openalex.org/W2253091738","https://openalex.org/W2253715035","https://openalex.org/W2265534753","https://openalex.org/W2322031340","https://openalex.org/W2328839663","https://openalex.org/W2328843265","https://openalex.org/W2333055333","https://openalex.org/W2333198950","https://openalex.org/W2407053032","https://openalex.org/W2472027127","https://openalex.org/W2488755695","https://openalex.org/W2507251109","https://openalex.org/W2536744608","https://openalex.org/W2545575499","https://openalex.org/W2554761564","https://openalex.org/W2563760120","https://openalex.org/W2596406261","https://openalex.org/W2765381220","https://openalex.org/W2767660263","https://openalex.org/W2772667943","https://openalex.org/W2780289325","https://openalex.org/W2784799193","https://openalex.org/W2789899292","https://openalex.org/W2796715436","https://openalex.org/W2877105569","https://openalex.org/W2890827717","https://openalex.org/W2897018006","https://openalex.org/W2904950739","https://openalex.org/W2911616313","https://openalex.org/W2913686661","https://openalex.org/W2938290029","https://openalex.org/W2938833462","https://openalex.org/W2945056742","https://openalex.org/W2949598856","https://openalex.org/W2951142040","https://openalex.org/W2952037828","https://openalex.org/W2957539984","https://openalex.org/W2996876941","https://openalex.org/W2997943370","https://openalex.org/W2997986529","https://openalex.org/W3016383810","https://openalex.org/W3034945695","https://openalex.org/W3036213509","https://openalex.org/W3037399909","https://openalex.org/W3110825666","https://openalex.org/W3111493071","https://openalex.org/W3112803047","https://openalex.org/W3121660545","https://openalex.org/W3135300306","https://openalex.org/W3146083582","https://openalex.org/W3161256345","https://openalex.org/W3185379450","https://openalex.org/W3193932658","https://openalex.org/W3194576962","https://openalex.org/W3201009971","https://openalex.org/W3215193980","https://openalex.org/W4214655390","https://openalex.org/W4225522973","https://openalex.org/W4246510018","https://openalex.org/W4248118718","https://openalex.org/W4250337480","https://openalex.org/W4252876368","https://openalex.org/W4284679855","https://openalex.org/W4292589484","https://openalex.org/W4303646915","https://openalex.org/W4318256447","https://openalex.org/W4328133768","https://openalex.org/W4360950326","https://openalex.org/W4365443736","https://openalex.org/W4381586944","https://openalex.org/W4386038435","https://openalex.org/W4386167135","https://openalex.org/W4386174936","https://openalex.org/W4386464367","https://openalex.org/W4388557964","https://openalex.org/W4389141305","https://openalex.org/W4389674970","https://openalex.org/W4389794258","https://openalex.org/W4390123777","https://openalex.org/W4391255171","https://openalex.org/W4392000923","https://openalex.org/W4393089356","https://openalex.org/W4398782850","https://openalex.org/W4401124671","https://openalex.org/W4401483016","https://openalex.org/W4402146845","https://openalex.org/W4404697167","https://openalex.org/W6901729835","https://openalex.org/W6907750690","https://openalex.org/W6925446021","https://openalex.org/W6925606959","https://openalex.org/W6944279918","https://openalex.org/W6961453567"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W7203565591","https://openalex.org/W6894243194","https://openalex.org/W7203565730","https://openalex.org/W4401124671","https://openalex.org/W4406777626","https://openalex.org/W4413188820","https://openalex.org/W2323630408","https://openalex.org/W2176029802","https://openalex.org/W620957841","https://openalex.org/W4410125234"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"This":[0,78,110,162,436],"thesis":[1,240,437,572],"explores":[2,207],"the":[3,10,30,33,150,213,284,386,390,427,443,446,512,534,538,550,561],"transformative":[4],"nature":[5],"of":[6,13,19,40,57,71,97,106,175,180,238,246,274,286,313,338,359,370,378,429,445,457,497,515,565],"memory":[7,115,146,248,546,567,582,589],"activism,":[8],"investigating":[9],"important":[11,327,366,451,539,574],"role":[12],"grassroots":[14,201,409,491,513,542,581],"action":[15,522],"in":[16,29,94,114,149,215,251,318,352,398,418,452,494,547,549,594,599],"Germany\u2019s":[17,95,319,331,458],"process":[18,96],"critically":[20],"reckoning":[21,460,505],"with":[22,117,145,426,601],"its":[23,27,61,107],"colonial":[24,108,275,314,353,387],"past":[25,34],"and":[26,43,55,60,74,91,104,124,134,160,177,203,218,230,265,272,277,290,298,316,343,355,382,389,406,431,454,465,489,500,518,544,552,563,587,597],"legacies":[28,279,358],"present.":[31],"Over":[32],"four":[35,243],"decades,":[36,223,474],"a":[37,51,68,99,126,172,227,335,439,495,525],"broad":[38,173,244,336],"movement":[39,208,232],"civic":[41,190,362,521],"initiatives":[42,202],"activist":[44,155],"individuals":[45],"has":[46,86,449,482,523],"worked":[47],"relentlessly":[48],"to":[49,82,212,267,301,345,348,394,414,461,503,533],"promote":[50,421],"more":[52,195,569],"critical":[53,84,102,131,269,339,480],"understanding":[54],"commemoration":[56,105,481],"German":[58,566],"colonialism":[59],"impact.":[62],"They":[63],"have":[64,309,476],"frequently":[65],"operated":[66],"among":[67,280],"widespread":[69],"lack":[70],"public":[72,258,453],"knowledge":[73],"amidst":[75,556],"institutional":[76,323,463,499,529],"refusal.":[77],"project":[79,153,163],"draws":[80],"attention":[81],"how":[83,220,255,520,585],"activism":[85,181,249,411,543],"been":[87,477,483,524],"an":[88,165,326,365],"integral":[89],"catalyst":[90],"accountability":[92,328],"measure":[93,329],"finding":[98],"way":[100],"for":[101,307,433,472],"reflection":[103,273],"past.":[109],"research":[111,509,536],"is":[112],"situated":[113],"studies,":[116,123],"further":[118],"inspiration":[119],"taken":[120],"from":[121,183,580],"postcolonial":[122,247,278,357,459,504],"uses":[125],"qualitative":[127,143],"approach":[128],"informed":[129],"by":[130,188,198,487],"feminist":[132],"methodologies":[133],"standpoint":[135],"epistemologies.":[136],"Building":[137],"on":[138,242],"material":[139],"gathered":[140],"through":[141],"semi-structured":[142],"interviews":[144],"activists":[147,256,295],"involved":[148],"movement,":[151],"this":[152,224,239,468,508,571],"addresses":[154],"motivations,":[156],"experiences,":[157],"ambitions,":[158],"challenges,":[159],"successes.":[161],"follows":[164],"extensive":[166],"empirical":[167],"approach,":[168],"as":[169,192,194,262,334,424],"it":[170],"investigates":[171],"range":[174,337],"examples":[176],"case":[178],"studies":[179],"work":[182,250,289,583],"across":[184,233,506],"Germany,":[185,507],"highlighting":[186],"campaigns":[187],"established":[189],"organisations,":[191],"well":[193],"sporadic":[196],"activities":[197,209],"loosely":[199],"organised":[200],"student":[204],"groups.":[205],"It":[206,253],"traced":[210],"back":[211],"1980s":[214],"West":[216],"Germany":[217,548,595],"illustrates":[219,254],"over":[221],"subsequent":[222],"evolved":[225],"into":[226,537],"nationwide":[228],"multi-vocal":[229],"heterogenous":[231],"reunified":[234],"Germany.":[235,252],"The":[236],"core":[237],"focuses":[241],"pillars":[245],"use":[257,285],"engagement":[259],"strategies,":[260],"such":[261],"walking":[263],"tours":[264],"exhibitions,":[266],"stimulate":[268],"learning":[270,575],"about":[271,560,584],"histories":[276],"mainstream":[281],"audiences.":[282],"Through":[283,400],"political":[287,466,501],"advocacy":[288],"participatory":[291],"street":[292,304],"renaming":[293],"campaigns,":[294],"address,":[296],"challenge,":[297],"secure":[299],"changes":[300],"colonially":[302],"themed":[303],"names,":[305],"that":[306,420,471],"decades":[308],"constituted":[310],"offensive":[311],"reminders":[312],"control":[315],"racism":[317],"urban":[320],"landscape.":[321],"Activist":[322],"critique":[324],"serves":[325],"within":[330],"heritage":[332],"institutions,":[333,391],"interventions":[340],"pushes":[341],"museums":[342],"universities":[344],"\u2018own":[346],"up\u2019":[347],"their":[349,379],"own":[350],"implication":[351],"violence":[354],"lasting":[356],"injustice.":[360],"Finally,":[361,555],"actors":[363],"establish":[364],"link":[367],"between":[368,541],"descendants":[369],"formerly":[371],"colonised":[372],"communities,":[373],"who":[374,392],"experienced":[375],"violent":[376],"abduction":[377],"cultural":[380],"belongings":[381],"Ancestral":[383],"Remains":[384],"during":[385],"period,":[388],"continue":[393],"hold":[395],"these":[396,422,516],"dispossessions":[397],"custody.":[399],"intricate":[401],"archival":[402],"research,":[403],"testimony":[404],"gathering,":[405],"empathetic":[407],"engagements,":[408],"restitution":[410,416],"significantly":[412],"contributes":[413],"ongoing":[415,557],"practices":[417],"ways":[419],"returns":[423],"acts":[425],"potential":[428],"justice":[430],"healing":[432],"dispossessed":[434],"communities.":[435],"constitutes":[438],"timely":[440],"project.":[441],"As":[442],"idea":[444],"\u2018colonial":[447],"amnesia\u2019":[448],"remained":[450],"scholarly":[455],"discussions":[456,559],"highlight":[462],"blindspots":[464],"inaction,":[467],"study":[469],"underscores":[470,573],"many":[473],"there":[475],"pockets":[478],"where":[479],"taking":[484],"place,":[485],"promoted":[486],"ambitious":[488],"committed":[490],"actors.":[492],"Furthermore,":[493],"context":[496],"emergent":[498],"commitments":[502],"makes":[510],"visible":[511],"underpinnings":[514],"developments":[517],"demonstrates":[519],"pivotal":[526],"factor":[527],"stimulating":[528],"changes,":[530],"thereby":[531],"adding":[532],"evolving":[535],"relationship":[540],"collective":[545],"20th":[551],"21st":[553],"century.":[554],"contested":[558],"state":[562],"scope":[564],"culture":[568],"broadly,":[570],"points":[576],"we":[577],"can":[578,591],"draw":[579],"multiple":[586],"diverse":[588],"narratives":[590],"be":[592],"commemorated":[593],"alongside,":[596],"even":[598],"solidarity,":[600],"one":[602],"another.":[603]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-11-07T11:25:07.637180","created_date":"2026-07-25T00:00:00"}