Museums, Migration and Identity in Europe: Peoples, Places and Identities

The imperatives surrounding museum representations of place have shifted from the late eighteenth century to today. The political significance of place itself has changed and continues to change at all scales, from local, civic, regional to national and supranational. At the same time, changes in population flows, migration patterns and demographic movement now underscore both cultural and political practice, be it in the accommodation of 'diversity' in cultural and social policy, scholarly explorations of hybridity or in state immigration controls. What is the role of museums in making representations about place and the different, sometimes conflicting, relationships that people have with it? What social agency does the museum have in this context? How can this be exercised and in pursuit of which political ideals?

This book investigates the historical and contemporary relationships between museums, places and identities. It brings together contributions from international scholars, academics and museum practitioners to explore all these ideas.