Contested Histories: Global Perspectives on the Past, Present and Future of Public Monuments

Examining case studies from Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe, this book explores the debates around the past, present and future of public monuments.Through the lens of the protests against controversial statues that began in 2020, it brings together scholars from across the academy to analyse the spatial, physical, and emotional interactions between monuments and people.Including analysis of examples ranging from the statue of Indro Montanelli in Milan, to monumentalisation of Mughal and British occupation in the Indian subcontinent, this book uncovers the role of public monuments in crafting national and individual identities, their role in public memory, and how they may be used to preserve or subvert chosen pasts.Acknowledging how memorials may elicit a strong public reaction, the essays in this volume also consider the merit of certain actions when contesting public monuments - from small alterations to complete destruction.With a strong emphasis on the future, this volume