CONSIDERATIONS ON POLEMICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PAST: THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ‘HISTORY IN ACTION’
CONSIDERATIONS ON POLEMICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PAST: THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ‘HISTORY IN ACTION’

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the implications of social representations of the past, conceptualised as polemical representations. More specifically, it reviews recent research that has examined the role of representations of the past and war in shaping intergroup relations and presents findings from a study exploring the polemical dimensions of the social representations of May 9 among young people.Following the dissolution of the USSR, many newly independent states retained some Soviet-era public holidays and commemorative practices. Among these, May 9 has preserved its historical significance as Victory Day, while also being recognised as Europe Day. Consequently, this date has become a source of social and political division. Its dual symbolism renders May 9 a contested commemorative event that generates competing and often polemic representations at the intergroup level. By integrating previous empirical research with the findings from the present study, the article aims to contribute to a better understanding of how competing representations of May 9 related commemorative practices shape contemporary intergroup attitudes and social dynamics.

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