Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)

4. Session / Séance. Strategies for Links with Historical Research / Stratégies de Communication envers la Recherche historique - Nebiker, Regula: Towards a New History of Europe (pre-integration period). The Archival Point of View / Pour une nouvelle Histoire européenne (avant l’intégration) (english 373 - français 382)

this sort by presenting them as inoffensive pictures of which the population must not be deprived. At the end of the day, the result is a lack of serious investigation of the past which could have unfortunate results. They lay themselves open to the criticism that they are seeking to escape into a fool’s paradise and to loss of historical awareness based on reality. The knowledge of one’s own past and that of other societies ought to form a solid foundation for the process of European integration.

Especially at the present time, historians and archivists must take upon themselves a joint responsibility. They provide the foundations capable of allowing a society to become aware of history that is in touch with reality. Their work takes on a noteworthy political importance. Today’s problems can only be understood if account is taken of the way they developed and of the changes they have undergone as time has passed. They cannot be grasped in all their complexity by concentrating on an understanding of the present alone. Historical analyses provide valuable foundations for the interpretation of current political phenomena. The comparative study by Helmut Kaelble* is an interesting example of an historical analysis which seeks to discover and then to discuss the early stages of the problems arising from integration. In this social history of Western Europe, Kaelble endeavours to show, with the help of selected examples, that since the end of World War II, social change in European societies is taking place in counterpoint to economic integration. It is true that this process does not follow the same rules as does political integration. Kaelble notes an interesting phenomenon, that political integration always shows down in those areas where social integration is least advanced. He also summarises the significance of a comparative social history of Europe:

This history of social integration is already important of itself. It could, however also disclose tendencies to integration, which could develop independently of the European community and extend beyond present member states. This could make it possible for us to discover the history of a type of integration, which would comprise every day life and the more general interests of Europeans outside the policies of the Community in the narrow sense, which night have priorities other than those of the community and which could be regarded by Europeans in a different way. As long as research is not pushed forward, it will no longer be possible to know if these tendencies towards social integration really did exist, nor if they might also serve as a corrective to present community policy within changed institutions such as, for example, a stronger European Parliament3 4.

It is the responsibility of historians to submit the „capacity of historical recollection“ of a society to continuous critical scrutiny and, if possible, to correct it. Historical inquiries for their part are subject to historical changes. Each age asks new questions of the past. The truth of historical interpretations can only be verified by examining the sources. To make this constant dialogue with the past possible, these „historical evidences“ must be kept by archives in safe places and made accessible. It follows that as free access to archives as is possible is the mark of a state’s modern democratic law. Angelika Menne-Haritz describes in the following way the important role which is the responsibility of the archivist in this modern state:

4. Session/Séance: Nebiker, Towards a new History of Europe

3 Kaelble, Helmut: Auf dem Weg zu einer europäischen Gesellschaft. Eine Sozialgeschichte Westeuropas 1880-1980. München 1987.

4 Kaelble: Europäische Gesellschaft, p. 11.

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