Book launch webinar: Contested Histories in Public Spaces: Principles, Processes, Best Practices

Thursday 28 January 2021

A webinar presented by the International Bar Association

11 FEB 2021 1700 – 1800 GMT

The International Bar Association invites you to attend the virtual launch of the eBook, Contested Histories in Public Spaces: Principles, Processes, Best Practices, edited by Dr Timothy W Ryback, Dr Mark Ellis, and Benjamin Glahn.

This landmark volume is intended for decision-makers confronting disputes over statues, street names, monuments, and other historical markers, with particular focus on the legal constraints and opportunities for action.

The 10 case studies are drawn from a survey of more than 230 controversies over legacies of slavery, colonialism, fascism, communism, and mass atrocity or human rights abuses. The cases explore the range of possible remedies: from status quo to placarding, resignification and repurposing, to relocation, removal, or destruction. We will look at the iconic disputes over Christopher Columbus, Edward Colston, Robert E Lee, and Cecil Rhodes, among others.

‘I wish we had had these excellent case studies during the important conversations around the Rhodes Must Fall protests in Oxford in 2015 and 2016,’ says Charles Conn, former Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford.‘They will be so useful in distilling some principles in considering contested histories around which productive dialogue can then occur.’

The webinar will be chaired by Dr Timothy W Ryback, Director and Co-founder, Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation. Opening and introductory remarks will be provided by Dr Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association, and Baroness Usha Prashar, CBE, PC, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and chair of the Contested Histories Task Force, with closing remarks by Benjamin Glahn, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Salzburg Global Seminar.

Participants will hear from the volumes’ co-editors, along with practitioners and scholars. Speakers will include His Excellency Lamberto Zannier, former OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities; Harriet Senie, member of the New York City Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments and Markers; Shahid Vawda, Professor of African and Gender Studies, University of Cape Town, Lecia Brooks, Chief of Staff, Southern Poverty Law Center, Dr Joanna Burch-Brown, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University of Bristol, and commissioner for the 'We Are Bristol' History Commission (Bristol), Marti Burgess, lawyer and Chair of Black South West Network and Klaus Kraatz, Vice-Chair of the IBA's Art, Cultural Institutions and Heritage Law Committee.

Dr Timothy W Ryback
Director and Co-founder, Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation

Mark Ellis

Dr Mark Ellis
Executive Director, International Bar Association

Read biography

Baroness Usha Prashar
CBE, PC, a crossbench member of the House of Lords

Ambassador Lamberto Zannier
former OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

Read biography

Dr Harriet Senie
member of the New York City Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments and Markers

Read biography

Dr Shahid Vawda
Professor of African and Gender Studies, University of Cape Town

Lecia Brooks
Chief of Staff, Southern Poverty Law Centre

Read biography

Dr Joanna Burch-Brown
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University of Bristol

Read biography

Marti Burgess
Lawyer and Chair of Black South West Network

Klaus Kraatz
Vice-Chair, IBA Art, Cultural Institutions and Heritage Law Committee

Read biography

Benjamin Glahn
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Salzburg Global Seminar

The Contested Histories in Public Spaces project is a joint initiative of the International Bar Association, the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation, and Salzburg Global Seminar.

Certificate of Attendance

Certificates of attendance for this webinar will be provided to all IBA members who have registered in advance and attended the live broadcast for a minimum of 30 minutes based on verified sign-in and sign-out times. Certificates can only be issued to the name provided at the time of registration.

Currently only IBA members will be provided with a certificate free of charge. IBA members should use the email address you have on file with the IBA to register for this webinar if you require a certificate of attendance.

Certificates for non-members are chargeable, please make enquiries at webinars@int-bar.org.