Marc Augé on Umbria Earthquake: Defending Medieval Villages as Western Identity

Following the devastating earthquake in Umbria, French anthropologist Marc Augé contributed a reflection to La Repubblica on the necessity of safeguarding the region's medieval villages. Augé argues that these sites are foundational to Western identity and that their preservation is especially urgent in the context of Brexit, which forces Europe to reconsider its political and cultural shape. He draws a parallel with ancient Rome's destruction of Carthage, warning against the erasure of cultural memory. In response to a journalist's question, Augé clarifies that saving a place does not automatically preserve memory, but it is a crucial step. He emphasizes that the history of Christianity in central Europe, particularly the monastic tradition between the first and second millennia, has deeply marked Western culture. Regarding reconstruction, Augé cautions against turning these sites into lifeless museums, noting that human activity and natural events are part of history. He cites the Roman Forum as an example where partial preservation still safeguards the memory of Roman civilization. Augé also connects the discussion to his concept of non-places, asserting that rebuilding ancient villages is an antidote to homogenization and a way to assert differences as a constitutive root of Europe. The article appears in Artribune's coverage of the earthquake's aftermath.