Core Concepts of History Didactics and Historical Education in Intercultural Perspectives: Review of the International Scientific Conference (Graz, November 11–14, 2020)

The article is a review of the main theoretical discussions of the international scientific conference on history didactics, which was organized at the University of Graz (Austria) at the end of 2020. The results of the conference indicate the presence of transformational processes taking place in history didactics. This is true both in relation to its basic concepts (historical consciousness, historical thinking, historical culture) and the methods of teaching history. The main trends of this transformation can be called the central role of issues of intercultural dialogue and cognition in history lessons, the comprehensive use of the digital environment in teaching history, the migration focus of history education and the widespread dissemination of ethical issues, the history of everyday life in history lessons. It was noted that this aspects are correlated with the development trends of modern memory studies, which gives hope for further correlation and mutual enrichment of the two discourses.

Historical Responsibility, Law and Practices of Networked Media Communications

The problem of connection between social phenomena of historical responsibility, law and network media communications in the context of the growing intensity of the use of fake technologies is investigated. The scientific direction of convergence of information and legal technologies in the field of historical memory is determined. The example of the Republic of Belarus shows how the tasks of preserving the common history of Belarus and Russia are being solved.

Migration and migratory communities in the focus of memory studies

The article is devoted to the analysis of the specificity and transformation of the research field of the collective memory of migratory communities. It was shown that the era of multiculturalism, which contributed not only to an increase in the number of studies, but also to the expansion of the very aspects of the study of the topic, played a key role in the study of the memory of migratory communities. Three main areas of research were identified and analyzed: a) personal and group memories of migration, as well as the specificity of the collective memory of various migration groups; b) the study of collective perceptions of the past of migrants in the context of the politics of incorporation and the politics of memory of host societies; c) study of the representation of the historical experience of migrations and migratory communities in museum practice. The idea was substantiated that the theoretical and practical potential of addressing the memory of migratory communities contributed not only to the transformation of the research optics of memory studies, but also showed the inevitability of significant changes in the understanding of ontology of collective memory. This found expression in the actualization of the transcultural turn, focused on overcoming methodological nationalism and considering collective memory not only within the framework of certain cultures or communities, but also it’s dynamic beyond cultural and social boundaries. The article analyzes the significance of the transcultural turn for research into the collective memory of migrants.

Moral Elaboration of Collective Trauma (Based on the Belarusian Protest 2020–2021)

The article is devoted to comprehending the collective trauma of the Belarusian society, received during public protests against the falsification of the presidential elections in 2020–2021, and its moral elaboration, which takes place regardless of the political development of events. Moral study of the trauma is aimed at restoring moral values and social practices of their implementation. These values include: the absolute value of human life, truthfulness, non-violence, solidarity, fearlessness, justice, trust. Narratives and interpretations are created in advance, making possible subsequent models of reconciliation, realizing positive responsibility for the past, present and future of their country.

«Memory Wars»: between Metaphor and Concept

The article is devoted to the study of the semantic field of "memory wars", identification of prerequisites and models of conceptualization of this concept, substantiation of the possibility of using the metaphor "memorial wars" as a concept. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research involves reference to the works of M. Foucault, R. Kozellek, M. Halbwachs, as well as to cognitive theories of metaphors (D. Lakoff, M. Johnson, A. P. Chudinov). Analysis of existing models for studying the history of concepts, analysis of specific social and discursive factors allowed us to trace the conceptualization of "memory wars" and to state the appearance of the corresponding scientific category, but additional theoretical work is needed to distinguish related concepts, as well as a clearer distinction between the metaphor "memory wars" and the corresponding scientific category.

The Temporal Dimension of «Work on Myth»: Deferred Responsibility

The article deals with the features of «work on myth» (a term proposed by H. Blumenberg) unfolding in time. The article demonstrates cases from the practice of political relations, when the subject of international law is held responsible for events after a long period of time. It is noted that specific temporal characteristics that extend to causal connections are presented as derivatives in the mode of «work on myth». It is concluded that the phenomenon of so-called deferred responsibility is an additional tool for manipulative influence on the mass consciousness.

H. White's "Metahistory" and the social conditions of historical responsibility

The article analyzes the possibilities of applying the model of "Metahistory" by H. White to analyze the social conditions of historical responsibility. The author briefly presents his interpretation of historical responsibility, then, based on the ideas of P. Bourdieu and M. Foucault. substantiates the ability of the narrative to determine social practices. Showing the rhetorical techniques used by actors of memory politics and public activists, the author shows that White's views can be applied not only to the analysis of historical texts, but also to the historical memory of historical responsibility.

The Policy of Remembrance of the Beginning of World War II: Features of Media Content in Modern Italy

The article analyzes the reflection in modern Italian mass media of the information agenda dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. Based on the study of queries in the Google search engine, publications on this event were identified, as well as an analysis of political representations. An important condition for interpreting media content is the understanding that Italian memory policy for several decades refused to comprehend the fascist past, forming the myth of "honest soldiers who simply fulfilled their duty." In the context of modern pan-European memory policy, Italy, on the one hand, seeks to follow common trends (Holocaust memory), on the other hand, tries to exclude its past from the discourse of confession of guilt. In newspaper publications dedicated to the anniversary of the outbreak of war, the following trends can be distinguished: emphasizing the importance of war lessons for the future, striving to exclude Italy from the list of instigators of war, emphasizing the insufficient participation of Great Britain and France in the process of preventing World War II.

War Memory and “Memory Wars” in Modern Memory Studies: the Main Approaches and Key Actors

The article deals the main approaches to the analysis of war memory, that established in Russian and foreign academic researches. It is made an attempt to classify these approaches, and the criteria is the highlighting of a central actor, translating the images of war past, or the recognition of the plurality of such actors. It is showed the specificities of a state and non-state actors in the articulation of war memory. As a result, it is highlighted a state-centred approach, a popular-memory approach and a social-agency approach. It is concluded, that in the social-agency approach the relation between war memory and “memory wars” becomes the most conspicuous, and it gives theoretical and methodological bases to study the category “memory wars”.

Traditional Dance in the Memory of Inpatriates and Diaspora (on the Example of the Circassians of Turkey and Kosovo)

The issue of the formation of different dance systems in one ethnic group (Circassians-Circassians), divided almost 200 years ago, representing the Circassian diasporas of Kosovo and Turkey, is considered. The reasons for the loss of cultural memory among representatives of the diaspora and its regeneration as a result of the resumption of cultural contacts with the Russian Adygs are investigated. The fragmentation of the cultural memory of the Circassian diaspora in Turkey is emphasized, associated with the formation of different dance systems among the Circassians (Shapsugs and Abadzeks) of the Black Sea coast (Duzce, Samsun) and the Circassians (Kabardians and Khatukays) of Kayseri. The difference in dance systems is also typical for the eastern and western Circassians in Russia. However, this fragmentation acts as an indicator of local diversity and, consequently, a source of cultural wealth and a resource for genre and dance exchange.