Polska pamięć wielokierunkowa? (Kto nie pamięta z nami, ten nie pamięta przeciwko nam)

Author(s): Katarzyna Bojarska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 6/2016

Bojarska tackles the current crisis of compassion and empathy that arises from the crisis of certain forms of collective memory. She argues that the concept of collective memory should be abandoned and that we should embrace relational or multidirectional memory. Crucial in this model is the conviction that memory is never one nor univocal, but rather an amalgam of earlier acts and representations. Bojarska calls for ethics of responsibility when it comes to establishing a collective identity that is closely linked to the past.

Polska pamięć autoafirmacyjna

Author(s): Maria Kobielska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 6/2016

Kobielska examines the culture of commemoration in Poland today, framing it in terms of ‘memory tools’ and describing the plurality of the commemorative tendencies it produces. She discusses three of them: the commemoration of the so-called ‘cursed solders,’ the purposeful organisation and use of the ways in which the Righteous Among the Nations are remembered, and the memory of the massacres of Poles in Volhynia. This allows her to characterize Polish memory as an auto-affirmation, while also showing different variations and mechanisms of this auto-affirmation, which nevertheless essentially strives to form an impeccable image of the past, to foster a sense of accomplishment and dignity, and to eliminate any doubts concerning the image produced. At the same time Kobielska demonstrates the ambivalence of these tendencies, the insecurity of their synchronization and the resulting possibility of their critical reinterpretation.

Klisze i prześwietlenia. Braki i naddatki polskiej pamięci

Author(s): Justyna Tabaszewska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 6/2016

Tabaszewska examines two key issues in the functioning of Polish memory, namely forgetting and contemplation. They can be seen as two aspects of the same process of standardizing memory, of constructing memory in a way that is supposed to turn it into a comfortable tool in the construction of a given collective identity. Forgetting and contemplation can therefore be read as a memory loop of sorts, rooted in the need to reconstruct an identity based on belonging to a given state. The selective and stereotypical aspects of collective memory largely result from attempts to produce an image of the past that would legitimize a sense of belonging to a stable state organism looking back on hundreds of years of continuity.

„Ja tutaj piszę o sobie”. Uwikłania pamięciologiczne

Author(s): Maria Kobielska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2017

What might motivate a researcher in cultural studies to explore memory in an engaged way, how can such engagement be legitimized, and what might be its consequences? Kobielska draws on broader debates on commitment in the humanities in order to describe the most frequent responses to questions about the permissibility of such engagement. She also points out why researchers’ responses might be inadequate, especially when applied to particularly sensitive, problematic and political areas of interest in the humanities today. Examining the specificity of commitment in the field of memory studies, Kobielska classifies ways of understanding the engagement of a person who studies memory, taking into account the fact that this researcher will be both a user of the culture of memory she studies and at the same time a critic, an activist in the field of memory, a moderator and facilitator of social and cultural processes of remembering.

CLASHING HISTORICAL NARRATIVES AND THE MACEDONIAN NAME DISPUTE – SOLVING THE UNSOLVABLE

Author(s): Zhidas Daskalovski / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

In the early 1990s Greece blocked the international recognition of the Republic of Macedonia under that name and is currently blocking accession of this country to NATO and EU demanding name changes, which the government of Skopje refuses to adopt. The Macedonia name dispute is a clash over historical narratives and the right to claim origins of the Macedonian ethnic group and nation today and in the ancient past. For Greece, the key element is winning the argument over the legitimacy of ancient Macedon as a Greek state and not having the name Macedonia used by its northern neighbour. For the Republic, the intricacies of the ancient history are only instrumental to the recognition of the country under its constitutional name and the unblocking of the Euro-Atlantic integration. Consequently, the only way to resolve the seemingly intractable name dispute between Greece and Macedonia is to deal with the historical and identity issues that both sides care most for and ignore those that are not important for the resolution or could be left aside to be disagreed upon without political consequences. A political solution with an agreed international name for the country ‘Republic of Makedonija’ is likely to solve the dispute and improve the relations between the two countries.

THE LEFTISM IDEOLOGY OR NOSTALGIA FOR THE SOCIALIST PAST? SEARCHING FOR LIEUX DE MÉMOIRE IN THE POST-SOVIET CULTURAL SPACES

Author(s): Liena Galeja / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2015

The concept lieu de mémoire (site of memory) was developed by the Frenchhistorian Pierre Nora in the 1970–90s, who suggests to use the term to refer to“any significant entity, whether material or non-material in nature, which by dintof human will or the work of time has become a symbolic element of the memorialheritage of any community” [Nora, Kritzman 1996:18]. Lieux de mémoire functionas an array of mnemonic techniques, which are necessary when the real memoryThe concept lieu de mémoire (site of memory) was developed by the French historian Pierre Nora in the 1970–90s, who suggests to use the term to refer to “any significant entity, whether material or non-material in nature, which by dintof human will or the work of time has become a symbolic element of the memorial heritage of any community” [Nora, Kritzman 1996:18]. Lieux de mémoire function as an array of mnemonic techniques, which are necessary when the real memory (milieux de mémoire) fades. Lieux de mémoire are repeatedly employed in referring back to the past, thus sustaining the actual identity of a community and laying a solid foundation for developing the existing identity or re-shaping it. In the Post-Soviet cultural space of Latvia lieux de mémoire, which are associated with the Soviet past, can be encountered everywhere, from the “The Government Inspector”, staged by Alvis Hermanis and performed during the 2010s, to the nostalgic interior objects in cafés, the hullabaloo stirred by the contest New Wave, the popularity of Karosta Prison in Liepāja, and social media users’ commentaries on the Internet about the topical events in contemporary society. The article discusses the potential links of these phenomena to contemporary socio-political events and attempts to establish if they hide any efforts to restore collective and individual memory, which were split alongside the so-called rewriting of history that took place as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, or indications of flaws in Western neoliberalism and neoconservativism while seeking opportunities for renewal of society by way of indirect leftist ideological implications.

English Abstracts

Author(s): Marco D'Eramo,Viktor Kiss,Omar Hassan,Sára Lafferton,Eszter Kováts,John Clarke,Mátyás Domschitz,Zsuzsanna Réka Elek,Miklós Merényi / Language(s): English Issue: 22/2017

Indigenous Mechanisms of Transitional Justice as Complementary Instruments to State Justice Systems

Author(s): Agnieszka Szpak / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2017

Transitional justice is resorted to within the framework of transition from armed conflict to peace and from authoritarian regimes to the democratic ones. To reach the aims of transitional justice and to better integrate the needs and perspectives of the indigenous peoples that very often are victims of serious human rights violations in the transitional context, as well as the colonisation context, indigenous instruments of justice may be utilised. As such they may be treated as complementary to other transitional justice mechanisms. The article aims to find a new perspective on the complementary role of the indigenous justice and the State justice systems within the framework of transitional justice as well as to take into account the indigenous peoples’ needs and customs. The overall aim of the paper is to answer the question whether it is desirable for such indigenous justice instruments to complement the State justice systems through a better integration of the needs and customs of indigenous peoples. In the concluding remarks, a model of complementarity model of transitional justice that includes indigenous instruments will be proposed.

Роль еліт у формуванні культурної ідентичності

Author(s): Olga Rafayilivna Kopiyevska / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 1/2015

In the article the interaction of state and culture in the context of political cooperation and creative elites. Actualized problem productive interaction of all stakeholders’ cultural life of the country. It is noted that Ukraine is a European orientation requires a gradual alignment of the democratic system in the country, the functioning of all spheres of public life on the basis of culture and law. Defined and analyzed in the article the problem of the national political elite, which is associated with the lack of what is called long planning horizon, the ability to create scenarios for the future, to choose the most appropriate, given the characteristics of internal and external circumstances, and develop strategic direction, build their models implementation. The article argues that from the contradictions that exist between the political and creative elite depend not only the fate of national culture and art, but also the fate of the political elite. In the context of the research attention paid to politics of identity in view of the importance of not only its practical implementation, but conceptualizing how important area of scientific knowledge, including cultural. Characterized terminology, historical reflection. We analyze the subject matter of identity politics, including cultural, that are functionally associated with the formation and reproduction of national, civic, regional, ethnic and religious identities. It is noted that the basis of identity politics is history and culture and formed on the basis of the concept of historical and cultural memory, which allows you to use all the resource potential of value-moral, historical and symbolic and emotional content. The study examined the article description also serves institutional mechanisms for the formation, preservation and transformation of identity through the cultural world view and value system of ideological and political views. Thus, it is noted that the mechanisms of identity politics should provide different social, ethnic and other groups that defend the right to their own identity in the community the opportunity to be different, but not alien or hostile and thus prevent xenophobia. Thus, the article examines subjects that affect identity politics. The latter is characterized as belonging to the different branches of government and civil society. Determine their role and importance in the implementation of national cultural identity. In particular, it is noted that identity politics has gained urgency in the European territory in connection with the creation of the European Union and its further expansion, which raised the question of the territorial identity population in different regions. The article also identifies the main challenges of cultural identity among which is focused on creating information and communication channels of distribution of state doctrine to identity formation and reproduction system of norms and values shared ideas on the prospects of social development. The role of cultural institutions, along with public television and radio and fulfill this role. The policy of cultural identity is seen from the perspective of ongoing state social ethnic, professional groups, practice formation (construction) identity that allows you to integrate cultural and educational practices significantly affects the formation of cultural environment determines the atmosphere in society and contribute to the spiritual development of the people; in response to one of the challenges of globalization – increased conflict between people who feel they belong to a global world, and people whose identity is inseparable from their authentic, local culture. Special attention is focused on the politics of cultural identity models, namely the conservative (or traditionalist) and innovation. It is reported that in the first model is the key "Conservative moralism" expressed in unambiguous interpretation of history, literature, historical and cultural heritage and is supported by an established set of symbols and rituals relevant. In turn, innovative model of cultural identity is an important resource of the country, the region and focused on meaningful intercultural dialogue in which basis tolerant, friendly attitude towards people of other ethnic groups, multicultural groups, and religious denominations. The opinion notes that effective and meaningful policy of cultural identity is the transition to a new phase of the relationship of the state and culture must be based principles of dialogue and civic participation in the formulation and implementation of cultural policies participatory, public-public-private partnership and civil solidarity. It is noted that it is common productive activity contributes to a positive consolidation that will resist the negative influence of popular culture, to prevent the erosion of national and cultural identity and formation, especially in young people a sense of responsibility for the fate of the country.

DER ADLER DER GESCHICHTE MOTIVE ZUM KULTURELLEN GEDÄCHTNIS DER ARMENIER

Author(s): Jürgen Gispert / Language(s): German Issue: 2/2011

Monuments serve to compress events and inform us about the way a culture deals with its past, as reflected in the Genocide Monument in Armenia’s capital, which was built in memory of the 1.5 million Armenians murdered in 1915. The associated museum displays documents from countries that have thus far acknowledged the Genocide. Each of these documents presents an inherent problem internationally, however, which is intensified by the very absence of some, namely those of Turkey and the USA. The present decision-making process around a European Union-wide law, concerning genocide denial, embraces the dimension of political memory. The current discourse on Genocide recognition must therefore be identified as bipartisan. In the first part, I will contrast the Brussels’ legal petition, attempting indirectly to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, with the EU-centred policy of cultural memory. The motives underlying the Armenian submission can be explored in another way on behalf of Armenian culture. These motives become more apparent in my discussion of the background to a memorial tablet on the Sardarapat monument, which was built in memory of the Armenian battle against Ottoman invaders in 1918.

Post-Communist Memory Culture and the Historiography of the Second World War and the Post-War Execution of Slovenian Collaborationists

Author(s): Oto Luthar / Language(s): English Issue: 02/2018

This paper aims to summarize the transformations in contemporary Slovenia’s post-socialist memorial landscape as well as to provide an analysis of the historiographical representation of The Second World War in the Slovenian territory. The analysis focuses on the works of both Slovenian professional and amateur historiographical production, that address historic developments which took place during the Second World War and in its immediate aftermath from the perspective of the post-war withdrawal of the members of various military units (and their families) that collaborated with the occupiers during the Second World War.

To Each Their Own: Politics of Memory, Narratives about Victims of Communism and Perspectives on Bleiburg in Contemporary Serbia

Author(s): Jelena Đureinović / Language(s): English Issue: 02/2018

This article examines politics of memory on the Second World War and its aftermath in contemporary Serbia, focusing on the people executed or sentenced after the war and their framing. Discussing the dominant narratives and institutional and legal frameworks of official memory politics, the first part of the paper is concerned with the dynamics between different mnemonic agents, including non-state actors. Namely, commemorations and memorials dedicated to victims of communism come from below, from the groups considering the state efforts in this sphere insufficient. They are, however, supported by some political actors, the church, and Karađorđević family. Finally, the paper looks at the perception of Bleiburg commemorations in media and political discourses in Serbia, placing it in the context of relations between the two countries concerning the memory of the war and its aftermath. As opposed to very similar tendencies in Croatia and Serbia, the political actors are concerned with their own victims respectively, framing them as the victims of communism. At the same time, the commemorations and rehabilitations happening in the other country are never acknowledged but condemned.

NATIONALISM AS AN ESSENTIALLY CONTESTED CONCEPT

Author(s): Hamid Bouyahi / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

Despite the fact that the notion of a state that contains a specific nation is relatively new, most societies tend to perceive their national origins as an indisputable historical fact. This paper tries to understand the reasons that make rational individuals and groups of people believe in the irrational claims of national identities and national pride. As political discourse is the main source of these claims, this paper analyses the nature of that discourse and the way it manages to coin essentially contested concepts that are acceptable by the public. Subsequently, the paper delves into the mechanisms in which the human cognitive apparatus interprets discourse, and the reasons that make it vulnerable to deception. Additionally, the paper revisits notions like nations and states to prove the fact that there is no direct relationship between belonging to a state and feeling national pride. Eventually, the paper tackles the main psychological attributes that interfere to make rational individuals and groups abandon their rationality to believe in purely sentimental political notions.

From Soviet to Post- or Anti-Soviet: Two L’viv Museums of War in Search of a New Ukrainian Narrative of World War II

Author(s): Alexandra Wachter,Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

While most of the historical events that took place in L’viv, Ukraine, during and after World War II are being successively researched, less attention has been paid to their representation throughout the Soviet period and its transformation afterwards. This article looks at two war museums in L’viv representing the most prominent competing historical perspectives on World War II in Ukraine today: the Soviet narrative of heroism and liberation, as put forward by the Museum of the History of the Carpathian Military District, and the Ukrainian narrative of a no less heroic fight for freedom and self-determination, as presented by the Museum of the Liberation Struggle of Ukraine. The first was the state narrative of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, is still supported by many Ukrainian citizens and politicians, and continues to influence ideas about how war should be commemorated; the promoters of the second have hoped to make it the new Ukrainian master narrative, but they encounter a variety of difficulties, which will be addressed in this article. The article examines the circumstances, motives, and goals of the museums’ creators, of the exhibitions’ narratives (and silences), and their design. The analysis is based on empirical research conducted in L’viv between August 2015 and October 2017 as part of the interdisciplinary research project “L’viv: Museum of War,” a collaboration between the artist Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair and the historian Alexandra Wachter.

Contemporary Historical Discourse on Polish Communism in a Narratological Perspective

Author(s): Katarzyna Chmielewska / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2016

The author analyses contemporary historical discourse on Communism from the perspective of narratology. Applying the tools most often used in the discussions of fiction, the author describes the construction of historical actors and the patterns of employment (sensu H. White), as well as characteristic strategies and tendencies of mainstream historical narratives.

МИХАЙ МЕЛИНТЕЙ «ХРОНОЛОГИЯ ПРИДНЕСТРОВСКОГО КОНФЛИКТА. АННОТИРОВАНА БИБЛИОГРАФИЧЕСКИМИ ССЫЛКАМИ (С ВЕРСИЕЙ НА РУССКОМ ЯЗЫКЕ)», ИЗДАТЕЛЬСТВО АРМАНИС, СИБИУ, 2018

Author(s): CHERNYAVSKIY Stanislav / Language(s): Russian Issue: 1/2018

The methods and instruments chosen for presenting the internal conflict in the Republic of Moldova allowed the author to follow step by step 1785 real events, which played a tragic role in the country's fate, which received state independence as a result of the self-destruction of the Soviet Union.Presenting concrete facts through the recommended bibliography method, M. Melintei relies on a wide range of sources, mainly official, which confirms the author's objectivity and provides an efficient working tool both for the theoretical and practical analysis of the Transnistrian issue.This study is unique in the sense that there are no such collections of specialized documents and chronologies on the issue in question. The volume of descriptive material (over 450 pages) is impressive, as well as the fact that the study is published in Romanian and Russian.

Ukrainian Philosophical Thought at the Brink between East and West

Author(s): Pavlo Sodomora / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2018

Ukrainian philosophical thought has been developing under the influence of several philosophical streams. Being influences by Orthodox tradition mainly, Church has always been at the forefront of any political campaign conducted on Ukrainian terrain. The level of education plays a key role in the process of cultural development of any country. Western part of Ukraine, comparing to its Eastern counterpart, had better access to education and information due to Catholic Church predominance in the region. Scholastic teaching was accepted by Ukrainian culture partially only, as well as it appeared to be interspersed with Patristics in an Orthodox vestition. The article intends to investigate the scholastic and patristic thought and its reproduction by Ukrainian cultural environment via various European teaching systems. Ukraine has been developing in a broad European context and this is why it could not have been deprived of influential teachings. However, Russian imperialistic and later communist ideology was hindering constantly the deployment and development of many ideas that were important for European philosophy. Together with Eastern theology, which was based mainly on works of Damascenus,Aristotelian traditions were introduced in Ukrainian schools gradually, and based on Aristotle’s works,theology of Saint Thomas was taught. Prominent Ukrainian thinkers, such as Petro Mohyla, KasianSakovych, Stanislav Orichovsky were influenced by many scholastic philosophers, including Saint Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas’ influence is apparent in later thinkers, such as Gabriel Kostelnyk and other prominent philosophers. In conclusion, it is apparent that despite the fact that so-called “philosophy of heart” was more intimate to the majority of Ukrainian thinkers; still Western approach was represented in various aspects and periods of development of Ukrainian philosophical thought.

Transitions Online_Around the Bloc-Karabakh Belligerents Agree to Prepare the Population for Peace

Author(s): TOL TOL / Language(s): English Issue: 01/22/2019

While promising, the statement masks the problem of reversing a quarter-century of virulent rhetoric, analysts say.

Филозофско контекстуисање (пост)хашке истине

Author(s): Slobodan Nagradić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2011

Приказ/Review: Зоран Арсовић, Оно што након Хага остаје, Арт принт, Бања Лука, 2010.

Transitions Online_News-The Mixed Legacy of NATO’s War Against Serbia

Author(s): TOL TOL / Language(s): English Issue: 03/26/2019

The 1999 bombing campaign brought an end to Milosevic’s brutal rule in Kosovo, at a high cost in human life.