Fe/derico Navarrete. Historia pública. El diálogo entre las memorias sociales. Ciudad de México, UNAM, Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas, 2024, 127 pp.

Abstract

This review of Federico Navarrete's Public History: The Dialogue Between Social Memories (2024) proposes a manifesto for democratizing historical knowledge and transforming traditional academic practice, which he criticizes for its isolation and colonial bias. The author advocates for a public history based on horizontal dialogue with social memories and introduces the concept of chronotopes to challenge the linearity of universal history. His proposal is articulated around the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, and authenticity, defending the use of accessible and ethical language to foster active historical citizenship. Thus, Navarrete invites us to read archives "against the grain," positioning the historian as an agent of social change capable of dismantling the hegemonies of knowledge and connecting with diverse audiences outside academia.