Post-Socialist Britain?: Memory, Representation and Political Identity amongst German, Polish and Ukrainian Immigrants in the UK

We have partnered up with the University of Birmingham again, this time to explore what happens to the connection between collective memory and political identity in the process of migration.

Post-Socialist Britain?: Memory, Representation and Political Identity amongst German, Polish and Ukrainian Immigrants in the UK is an AHRC-funded research project that explores what happens to the connection between collective memory and political identity in the process of migration. Focussing on countries with an experience of state socialist rule, the project explores how the popular notion that political extremism in post-socialist countries is underpinned by collective memory of authoritarianism is based on the assumption that those remembering authoritarianism do so in their country of origin. Post-Socialist Britain? breaks out of this national mould to explore if and how memory is linked to political identity when the individual moves to a new national context. It is often assumed that memory informs political behaviour and identity, but we don’t know exactly if and how that connection works. Post-Socialist Britain? explores this question from a unique perspective.

We have commissioned artist Paulina Korobkiewicz to respond to this project, which will result in an exhibition we have coming this September 2023.

Context

Political identity is influenced by a complex web of factors: e.g, constructions of ethnicity, social inclusion, community networks, and media representation. Post-Socialist Britain uses an innovative interdisciplinary methodology to explore this complexity. It uses a case study approach, focusing on two comparable, but very different, groups: Polish and German immigrants in the UK.

The research findings of Post-Socialist Britain? will lead to a better understanding of how immigrant groups negotiate different aspects of their identities and the factors that contribute to the development of political behaviour. Contemporary Britain is made up of the people who live here. Sometimes we forget that this includes hundreds of thousands of individuals who have migrated to the UK from post-socialist contexts. This project aims to support community cohesion and inclusion by better representing the memories and lived experiences of these groups.

The research is divided into four strands: Narratives, Networks, Media and Communities.

Outcomes

1. A single-authored monograph
2. A conference and special issue
3. Five peer-reviewed journal articles
4. Photography workshops in West Bromwich and Nottingham
5. Two policy briefings
6. A virtual and physical exhibition and series of artistic performances
7. School teaching resources

Project Progress

Centrala and Post-Socialist Britain? are working together with Paulina Korobkiewicz, within West Bromwich and Nottingham. We have celebrated the communities and held events where everyone can join in. We also have a PhotoWalk for Ukrainians, which will include Artist Tom Hicks guiding individuals across Digbeth to explore the heritage as we celebrate the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and those seeking sanctuary.

We are also getting ready for our Exhibition in September, which will showcase the results of the project (15 sep – 21 oct)

More information about the project HERE.