States of Memory

"States of Memory succeeds, for the most part, in achieving Olick's goal of presenting middle-range theories of memory, casing generally applicable theory of social memory within localized case studies. The diversity in this volume, which includes the work of sociologists, political scientists, and historians, is evident in the breadth of perspectives presented." - Charles Golden, American Anthropologist

"States of Memory will interest public historians as a useful collection of essays on memory and modern nationalism." - Aaron Cohen , The Public Historian

"[A]n enchanting set of essays addressing the construction and use of memory by political, socioeconomic elites and in scholarly studies." - John Francis Burke , Perspectives on Political Science

"[T]his book offers a series of thought-provoking case studies that prompt the reader to make links between different contexts of memory, something that, as Olick points out, is often lacking in this field of study. Despite the risk that the range of contexts and methodological orientations can dilute possible sociological and theoretical insights, overall, it is one of the book's assets. It makes a contribution to research interested in refining the sociological study of memory and developing a conceptual apparatus sufficiently nuanced for the complexity of the topic and its current conditions".

- Christine Lavrence , Canadian Journal of Sociology

"The consistently strong essays in States of Memory contribute to middle-level theories about the memory-nation nexus. Moreover the volume provides interdisciplinary, cross-cultural data that could be used to develop inclusive grand theories that will further advance the young field. . . . [A] valuable resource for scholars of culture, politics, and history." - Tim Kubal , Contemporary Sociology

“An old Yugoslav aphorism goes: ‘The future is not hard to predict, but the past is forever changing.’ The essays gathered in this volume all deal in one way or another with the way people organize their collective memories of a past, and particularly a national past. The range of topics is remarkable, and the essays themselves are uniformly excellent—beginning with Jeffrey K. Olick's masterful introduction.” - Kai Erikson, author of A New Species of Trouble: The Human Experience of Modern Disasters