Competing Narratives on the Future of Contested Heritage: A Case Study of Fascist Monuments in Contemporary South Tyrol, Italy

In heritage conflicts it may be more important to provide space for open debate and disagreement than to try to quickly resolve the conflict itself. This article explores public debates about the future of contested monuments through the example of Fascist heritage in contemporary South Tyrol, Italy. In this province with a large German-speaking population, Fascist monuments are key political and ideological objects. Described alternatively as negative symbols of Fascist oppression and as memorials to those who defended the nation, the future of these monuments is highly contested. Calls for the monuments’ destruction, their preservation, and their critical transformation or reinterpretation compete for public support. It is unlikely that an agreement will be reached in the near future. However, the debates, often played out in the media, have brought the complexities of managing dissonant heritage into public consciousness. Public support has grown for a non-binary interpretation of the monuments that recognizes their multiple social meanings, and debates have become less inflamed and hostile. In this specific example, but also more widely, strategies aimed at resolving conflict for good may prematurely interrupt productive ongoing debates. Instead, critical reflection over the meaning and the futures of contested heritage should be encouraged, rather than seen simply as a mere first step toward a permanent solution.