Colonial law in focus: Lecture on the politics of remembrance in Würzburg

Colonial law in focus: Lecture on the politics of remembrance in Würzburg

A profound topic often requires a well-founded discussion. The current series of lectures at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg is therefore dedicated to colonial law and its far-reaching effects on German society today. On July 17, 2025, Professor Pascale Cancik will speak about “Colonial law as a challenge to debates on the culture of memory”. This event, organized by the university's Faculty of Law, sets new accents in the discussion about historical justice and culture of remembrance. Admission is free and registration is not required, so anyone interested is welcome to attend.

The lecture series “Würzburg Lectures on Legal Philosophy, Legal Theory and Legal Sociology” aims to build bridges to theory and make central topics in these areas accessible. The format not only offers a space for academic exchange, but also encourages the public to deal with complex topics. Detailed insights are also available in the context of the project on post-colonial jurisprudence, which is led by Jochen von Bernstorff, Philipp Dann and Isabel Feichtner. Here, a research gap in German colonial law and jurisprudence is closed, which had a decisive influence on German colonial history, which for a long time remained underexposed in Germany's culture of remembrance. More information can be found here.

The interconnection of law and history

The study on the historical continuities of colonial law shows how the law constituted German colonialism and influenced it right up to the Federal Republic of Germany. Burning questions are also raised: How was colonial law received, integrated and legitimized by legal scholarship? This is particularly relevant when one considers that the collective cultures of remembrance, which in Germany were long dedicated to the crimes of National Socialism, long pushed the colonial experience into the background. While the German Empire's overseas possessions were cautious compared to other European powers, the loss of the colonies with the Treaty of Versailles occurred after only about 35 years. Find out more about the research project here.

The visibility of Germany's colonial and imperial history has increased in recent years. Historical research and activist initiatives have contributed to bringing issues such as the genocide of the Herero and Nama people and the debate about renaming colonial street names into the public eye. The discourse on German colonial history is also important against the background of immigration policy over the last two decades. Since 2000, people with a history of immigration have been entitled to citizenship, and this means that diverse stories have been integrated into the national culture of remembrance.

Initiate current debates

In his book "Whose memory counts? Colonial past and racism today", the author Mark Terkessidis addresses the questions surrounding the colonial past and its connection to today's migration. He advocates a serious debate about historical memory in relation to migration and colonialism. It becomes clear that past injustices shape our current discourse and that we must be aware of this responsibility. The discussion of these issues should not be limited to the event on July 17th, but should become part of a broader social discussion. Further information can be found here.

In this sense, public engagement in the discussion about colonial law and culture of remembrance is essential. The Würzburg event offers a valuable opportunity to gain new perspectives and to actively participate in this important discourse.