Keynote speech by Ferenc Miszlivetz (director of Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg – iASK)
At Heritage and Identity Conference, Kőszeg
On 24th of March 2018 – at Jurisics Castle

European (Inter)Cultural Heritage in the Quantum Age of Fluid Identities – Keynote speech by Ferenc Miszlivetz at the Heritage and Identity Conference of Interpret Europe, Kőszeg, 25 March, 2018

Interpret Europe’s annual conference of 2018 took place from 23 to 26 March in Kőszeg (Hungary). It had been organised together with the Hungarian partners Association of Cultural Heritage Managers (KÖME / HU), the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK) and the Local Government of the town of Kőszeg with nearly 200 experts from 40 countries. Being part of the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage, the conference was opened by the EU Commissioner for Education and Culture, Tibor Navracsics.

Ferenc Miszlivetz (iASK) – European (Inter)Cultural Heritage in the Quantum Age of Fluid Identities

Nearly three decades after the collapse of the Berlin wall, and close to a decade and a half after the Eastern enlargement of the European Union, the East – West divided is more conspicuous and robust then ever. Today, Europeans are more confused about their identities than in previous decades. This confusion is further exacerbated by the increasing complexities and ambiguities of a new epoch of uncertainty that we might call the quantum age.

European societies, once again, tend to identify themselves increasingly according to the   perceived  interests of their nationstates. Accordingly, the interpretation of cultural heritage is also restricted  by the geographical boundaries of the state .

A more complex understanding of our identities as “flows” instead of exclusive  entities is needed. A deeper investigation of the intercultural character of our heritage (be it built, tangible or intangible) might help Europeans to find new ways out of the present cultural deadlock, scapegoating and deepening crisis of democracy.

Ferenc Miszlivetz is a sociologist and historian. He is Professor of International Relations at the Kőszeg campus of the University of Pannonia and director of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Kőszeg (iASK).