Public spaces and circumscribed spaces of the collective memory: A research on the location of commemorative monuments

Abstract

This research presents three archival studies conducted on three different databases, on the location of memorials. Study 1 compares French monuments dedicated to the Wars of 1870–1871 (defeat) and 1914–1918 (victory). We note a proportionally greater presence in public spaces of monuments dedicated to the 1914–1918 War. Study 2 concerns the memorials to political repression in the Russian Federation, erected before and after 1991 (date of promulgation of a victim rehabilitation law). Results show an increase of presence of monuments in the public space starting from 1991. Study 3 concerns the location of monuments dedicated to the Second World War in the Russian Federation. No significant variation in the locations of these monuments is observed between 1951 and 2010. The results of these studies suggest that the location of monuments could be a relevant indicator to assess the way a society views a commemorated event at a given moment.