Postcolonial Memory in the Netherlands: Meaningful Voices, Meaningful Silences (Amsterdam University Press, 2022)

This book is about postcolonial memory in the Netherlands. This term refers to conflicts in contemporary society about how the colonial past should be remembered. Of the multiple colonial histories that the Netherlands is involved in, I focus primarily on the Dutch East Indies.

The theoretical approach of the book is interdisciplinary, combining cultural analysis with political theory and legal history. Its four chapters each focus on one case study, ranging from issues of collective identity among postcolonial diaspora communities, to the representation of said communities via traditional and social media; and from colonial monuments in public space, to decolonial activism against these monuments.

Throughout these case study analyses, I emphasize the concepts of voice and silence. In cultural theory and activism, these are often used as opposite metaphors of power: voice signifies empowerment (“raise your voices!”) and silence signifies powerlessness (“break the silence!”). I aim to nuance this opposition by analyzing meaningful silences alongside meaningful voices.  Whether taking shape as commemoration rituals (e.g. two minutes of silence), silent protests or vigils, silence can express dignity, it can protect, disrupt and reconfigure: like voice, silence can be empowering.

The book is timely in the light of the increasing prominence of postcolonial memory conflicts in present-day societies across the world. From toppled colonial statues to government apologies for slavery: the topic occupies policymakers, journalists, curators and scholars alike.

By presenting the book at ICAS, I aim to foster further conversations about this topic with peers in an international and interdisciplinary setting.