Historical Memory of the Ukrainian-Polish Borderland (on the Example of the Existence of Socio-Historical Stereotypes)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/hj2025.62.187-192Keywords:
Historical memory, borderlands, Ukrainians, Poles, socio-historical stereotypes, cultural traumaAbstract
In recent decades, research into the forms and characteristics of historical memory has become increasingly popular, going far beyond theoretical studies and taking on increasingly practical forms. It is precisely the focus on historical memory in borderlands, where not only different national traditions, languages and cultures intertwine, but also history, that is of practical importance.
The article examines the historical memory of the Ukrainian-Polish borderlands and proves that a special identity is formed in the borderlands, which is a fairly stable category, as it is based on the socio-historical stereotypes and myths that exist here. The Ukrainian-Polish borderlands are a specific territory where Ukrainians and Poles lived together/in parallel during different historical periods (regardless of which states these territories belonged to). These are areas where languages, cultures, traditions and religions intertwined, creating a separate, specific identity. The borderlands are united by a common history, often steeped in historical and cultural trauma. Here, there are social and historical stereotypes that differ from those in other regions, and as a result, a unique historical memory has been formed.
Historical memory is shaped by cultural heritage (traditions, monuments, art), oral narratives, historical sources, education and the media, and is important for the formation of collective identity. Unlike historical science, which is based on scientific research, historical memory is a more simplified and often subjective perception of the past, which can be constructed by both society and the state
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