Cosmopolitanization and Mnemonic Processes

This chapter approaches memory studies from a historical-sociological perspective, emphasizing the dynamic nature of memory as a process rather than a static entity. Drawing on Norbert Elias’s critique of “process reduction,” it argues for a processual approach to collective memory. The discussion extends to the concept of cosmopolitanization as both a methodological and a heuristic tool, particularly in relation to Holocaust memory. The evolution of Holocaust memory serves as an illustrative example. Intertwined with the rise of the global human rights regime, Holocaust memory exemplifies the interaction between local and global forces in shaping mnemonic frameworks. This dual process of universalization and particularization has contributed to the cosmopolitanization of Holocaust memory, which has been both unifying and divisive. The study clarifies the distinction between cosmopolitanism as a normative theory and cosmopolitanization as a sociological process that transcends methodological nationalism, highlighting its implications for contemporary memory studies.