Naslov
The Politics of Memory in Croatia – Celebration of the "Old" Statehood Day

Autori
Gotal, Mihovil

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, ostalo

Skup
The 3rd International Conference on Re-Thinking Humanities and Social Science

Mjesto i datum
Zadar, Hrvatska, 06.09.2012. - 09.09.2012

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
politics of memory; Statehood day; political symbols; calendar; commemoration

Sažetak
This paper is focused on analysing the politics of memory in Croatia since the 1990s through the example of changes in the state calendar and celebrations of national holidays. Specifically, the author analyses the case of the former Croatian Statehood Day. The official state calendar is a kind of political symbol through which the ruling elite imposes the official interpretation of history to legitimize its own position in the society, as well as (re)shape national identity. The calendar itself holds dates with a specific status that usually represents anniversaries of what are according to the official interpretation of history considered to be important historical events. These dates are officially celebrated as national holidays through all kinds of commemorative practices. An example of this kind of national holiday was the ´former´ Statehood day which was celebrated in Croatia on the 30th of May from 1990 to 2001. The analysis of this holiday shows us how great political changes such as establishing a new state or the transformation of a political system, are often followed by changes in the politics of memory, specifically changes in the state calendar. The analysis is conducted by focusing on the political circumstances which led to the formation and transformation of this holiday and on the commemorative practices which were used for public celebrations of this holiday.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Etnologija i antropologija

POVEZANOST RADA