Srednja Europa: Remembrance and Heritage
Overview
Srednja Europa, as a publisher of historic and historiographic literature, has for the past nineteen years nurtured the notion of encouraging research and reproducing knowledge about history as an integral part of shaping and preserving one's heritage. One of the main features of our work has been aimed at promoting cultural heritage and working towards promoting remembrance and memory culture.
If we were to tell you a story of a European heritage, we would tell you a story of Croatia. Croatia's geographical space and history were shaped by numerous phenomena that imprinted a distinct mark on its culture and heritage: Krapina neanderthals, Illyrians, Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Habsburg Monarchy, Austro-Hungary, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, socijalist Yugoslavia… All of these phenomena, and many more, have left traces that make up the cultural fabric of both Croatia and Europe.
However, even though many stories lie hidden within these phenomena, we will not be telling you those stories. Instead, we will tell you a story of Srednja Europa, a small but agile publishing house from Zagreb. Srednja Europa has for the past nineteen years been a prolific publisher of historical and historiographical literature by renowned historians, thus cultivating knowledge about history, culture and heritage.
Basing its work on the notion of heritage as the fabric of identity of the nation and understanding of history as an integral part of cultural tangible and intangible heritage, Srednja Europa focuses on deepening the knowledge and understanding of history, focusing esppecially on topics of remembrance and memory culture as a form of society's communication with its own history, culture and heritage. By publishing works in the field of history which thematize topics of cultural heritage, Srednja Europa contributes to the preservation of our heritage. On another level, the physical copies of every such book are a tangible manifestation of research and knowledge and, in extent, an item of tangible heritage. Nonetheless, Srednja Europa's activities go beyond mere publishing activities. Srednja Europa organises book launches, discussions, roundtables and workshops on topics of heritage and remembrance and memory culture in order to encourage discussions, disseminate knowledge and create a positive environment for discussing culture, heritage and difficult topics of history. As a co-organiser of the Cliofest History Festival, Srednja Europa is working on popularizing history and creating a positive social environment by encouraging public participation.
European Dimension
Srednja Europa has an extensive collaboration with a plethora of international scholarly institutions, foundations and NGOs. Organising various events with the participation of internationally renowned historians and experts, Srednja Europa aims at intercultural and interinstitutional networking to promote its core values of the importance of history for preserving our heritage and creating strong crosscultural bonds within the cultural and geographical space of Europe.