ESHCC is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Robbert-Jan Adriaansen as the new endowed chair Historical Culture in Transition at the History Department, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University, per 1 September 2024. Established by EuroClio, the European Association of History Educators, this chair by special appointment supports theoretical reflection and empirical research into historical culture – the collection of diverse and sometimes conflicting ways of engaging with the past in education, society, and science.
The EuroClio chair's mission in a globalised, politicised, and digitised world
In today’s interconnected world, globalisation, politicisation, and digitisation rapidly evolve societies’ relationships with their pasts, challenging established historical frameworks and identities. Emerging ecological, imperialistic, and religious conceptions of history contest the dominance of Western-oriented historical consciousness. Politicisation sparks intense debates over identity, heritage, and canonisation, leading to polarisation and highlighting the role of history in conflict resolution. Digitisation increases accessible historical information but also spreads misinformation and changes modes of historical meaning-making.
The EuroClio chair Historical Culture in Transition aims to address these challenges. By exploring how societies use history to shape identities, the chair will help in understanding and navigating the complexities of modern historical culture. Adriaansen’s work will aim at bridging theoretical approaches with practical applications, providing valuable insights for scholars, educators, policymakers, and the broader public.
Adriaansen's activities
Robbert-Jan Adriaansen’s research focuses on conceptions of history and historical consciousness, in the past and in the present. In 2015 he published the monograph The Rhythm of Eternity: The German Youth Movement and the Experience of the Past, 1900-1933 (New York: Berghahn Books, 2015). His current research focuses on multimodality and historical consciousness in digital culture and history education.
Robbert-Jan Adriaansen currently lectures in the Theory of History and Historical Culture at the Erasmus School of History, Culture, and Communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He is Executive Director of the Center for Historical Culture and the co-lead of ERMeCHS Heritage & Identity research cluster.
Adriaansen will dedicate one day a week to his professorship at Ghent University, in addition to his ongoing responsibilities at ESHCC.
Objectives
EuroClio, the European Association of History Educators, supports this chair to enhance cooperation and knowledge exchange in historical education across Europe. This partnership aims to strengthen the relationship between Ghent University, EuroClio, and Erasmus University Rotterdam, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to studying historical culture and education.
The chair’s objectives include advancing research in historical culture at Ghent University, contributing to the TAPAS research group, and promoting international collaboration. By engaging in public debates and educational initiatives, the chair will serve as a bridge between academia and society, to better understand and strengthen the role and significance of history through an integrated study of historical culture.
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