New Books Network Mark Celinscak and Mehnaz Afridi, eds., "Global Approaches to the Holocaust: Memory, History and Representation" (U Nebraska Press, 2025)
Dec 16, 2025
Mark Celinscak, a Holocaust historian, and Mehnaz Afridi, a scholar focused on Jewish–Muslim relations, explore global approaches to Holocaust memory. They discuss how shifting perspectives reveal new insights from non-European contexts, addressing the challenges of Holocaust education worldwide. The editors emphasize the importance of understanding individual stories alongside broader structural issues. They also highlight notable chapters that deepen our understanding of refugee experiences and the manipulation of national narratives in memory. Their work aims to broaden Holocaust studies and its pedagogical applications.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Cover Art Encapsulates Global Displacement
- David Ludwig Bloch's 1947 "Mr. Nobody Shanghai" captures refugee displacement and global movement visually.
- Mark Celinscak and Mehnaz Afridi chose it to symbolize stalled journeys and statelessness worldwide.
Book Designed For Classroom Use
- Afridi says the book was designed for classroom use and to reach diverse students globally.
- She asked contributors to write with pedagogy in mind so chapters can be taught individually.
Global Pattern: Closed Doors With Exceptions
- Doors to Jewish refugees were largely closed across many countries but with notable exceptions like Shanghai and the Philippines.
- Chapters trace both systemic refusals and localized openings to illustrate global variance.
