Nationalization of history
Encyclopedia
Nationalization of history is the term used in historiography
to describe the process of separation of "one's own" history from the common universal history
, by way of perceiving, understanding and treating the past that results with construction of history as history of a nation. If national labeling of the past is not treated with great care, it can result with retrospective nationalization of history and even assigning nonexistent or exaggerating existing national attributes of historical events and persons. Nationalization of history, which began after period of globalization of history, was not only one of causes, but also element and result of process of establishment of modern nation
s (national revival
).
Universal history
, the result of a universal, cosmopolitan interpretation of historical events and mankind as a whole, coherent unit, preceded the nationalization of history. In the Western world
, this motivation to imagine a universal history became influential in the 18th century when numerous philosophers promoted new cosmopolitan ideologies, after the ethno-religious conflicts of the previous century, and the subsequent consolidation of states which attempted to impose themselves over religious particularisms. Colonial experience (many Europe
an countries had colonies) exposed society in Europe to numerous different cultures and civilizations. It is also very important to take in consideration that 18th century was in the age of enlightenment
with peoples activities, both on individual and social level, were determined with desire to follow rational scientific judgment while changing the society, which released them from restraints of customs and arbitrary authorities based on faith
, superstition
, or revelation
and backed up by religion
or tradition
. All this circumstances provided suitable surrounding for development of universalistic, liberal and rational global perspectives in studies of society and its past and writing historical texts.
In his Essay on customs (1756) Voltaire
studied development of civilization in the world with universal perspective, rejecting tradition, christian and national frames. He was significantly influenced by Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
and his work Discourse on the Universal history (1682) when he was first who seriously attempted to write history of the world, without limits imposed by nation or religion, emphasizing economical, cultural and political history. Imanuel Kant developed idea about universally applicable moral imperatives in his work Perpetual Peace (1795) and designed a plan for establishing cosmopolitian
liberal order which would result with perpetual peace
. Universalism of 18th century created ideology which in modern form could be identified as modern civil society
.
Emerging of modern historiography is connected with German universities in 19th century and significant influence of Leopold von Ranke
who insisted on objectivity and systematic use of historical documents in shape of authentic primary sources and his credo was to perform reconstruction of the past "as it was". Ranke's universal precepts in virtually all his works were, however, applied almost exclusively to the history of states and nations .
that creating of historical works started to be strongly influenced by national perspectives, and that perspective gradually became globally dominant with its culmination during 19th and at the beginning of 20th century. Nationalism was estimated as proper perspective in such extent, that nationalization of history remained unnoticed till recently (1980s and 1990s) and was not studied in historiography in scale that would correspond to its significance.
Many various reasons, depending on the circumstances, caused nationalization of history. Probably most important is national revival
, which important element was nationalized history, that resulted with emerging of modern nations and nation-states, mostly during 19th century. With emerging of national states, global universal approach in writing history lost ground to the nation state and was very much captured by it even in significant part of 20th century. The professionalization and institutionalization of history
that took part in nation state's institutions during 19th and first half of 20th century was closely connected with process of history's increasing nationalization. Nationalization of history was additionally entrenched by the development of national curricula in schools based on "monumental and prestigious" series of "authoritative" national stories often written in insular style and justificatory manner.
After First World War was finished, in some cases during establishment of new frontiers, there was principle of national self-determination taken in consideration during frontier demarcation
. Therefore it was necessary to establish national historical character of certain territories and settlements, like in case between Germany and Poland and Versailles treaty when numerous historians prepared short studies in attempt to support territory demands based of Germany or Poland.
After Second World War and process of decolonization
, process of establishing new countries that gave additionally stimulated nationalization of history because "new flags
requested new histories". Even when citizens of newly established countries already had their national identity built, nationalization of history in those cases was aimed to creation of new national identity based on citizenship. Canada
is example of attempt of nationalization of history to create shared, historically rooted identity for English and French Canadians.
Causes of nationalization of history in former communist regimes, mostly at the end of 20th century, can be also found in reaction on long-term submission to communist historical interpretations and forced disregard for bourgeois nationalistic past. In cases where one of results of coloured revolutions (i.e. Georgia
, Ukraine
,...) was desire to gain symbolic distance from Soviet past, nationalization of history was tool for externalizing the communist past and rediscovery of European national identity of nation.
) or traumatic losing of wars (Japan
, Germany
, ...) there can be second phase, renationalization of history, on usually changed basis and perspective of nationalism.
had two separate phases:
First phase chronologically coincided with process of "rediscovery of tradition" and national revival
that captured whole Europe, while second phase takes place in period of globalization, vanishing cultural frontiers and aggressive international forms of mass culture.
ed text
s of nationalized of history is providing basis for national revival
s in process of creating of modern nations. Projects of national awakenings captured nationalized history and turned it in weapon of popularization of national myths in the period of establishing history as social scientific discipline. Shortcut to production of national mythologies that proves ancient origins of modern nations providing them with respectable past was forgery
of historical documents, literature and historical works that were lost for some time, and then suddenly rediscovered to approval of astonished grateful public
. Authors of such rediscovered treasures that were in quest for success
and glory, did not suspect that they were in fact builders of as yet nonexistent modern nation
s. Even when it was obvious that certain texts are basically invented national myths, many social groups, and even intellectuals, wanted to believe that they are authentic national epics, like Kalevala
in Finland
.
The nationalization of history, which had its origins more in the epics and tendentious oratory
then in philosophy
, sometimes grew up idea of an esprit des peuples or national spirit, and, later still, the idea of the 'mission' of each nationality. Such ideas did not evolve into groups of associated individuals, but into universal spirits that can destroy individuals and nations.
Nationalization of history was important element of national revival and creating new nation states in 19th and beginning of 20th century. New nation states and their institutions had most important role in social process of the professionalization and institutionalization of history
that was additionally supporting process of nationalization of history. Final consequence was that national history regarded nation-state as primary unit of historical analysis.
Nationalization of history affects all aspects of life, from relationship with other nationalities to architecture
. This is result of the fact that nationalization of history corresponds with nationalization of the nature, and with fact that reserves and hostilities toward other nations accompanied nationalism
from the beginning. At the end of 20th century there was extreme nationalistic interpretation of the history on Balkan and Caucasus
which became powerful weapon in ethno-territorial conflicts and accelerated disintegration of multinational states like Yugoslavia
and Soviet Union
.
After disintegration of multinational states like Yugoslavia
and Soviet Union
sometimes, besides the process of renationalization of history, there is also retroactive nationalization of victims or tragedies of the people that in past lived in those states. According to new national historical narrative
s, reason for some people being victim
s or suffered some tragedies was because they were certain nationality, like in example of Ukrainians
and Soviet Union
or Croatians and Yugoslavia
(Bleiburg massacre
).
, which is result of intention to change perspective of creating works about history by promoting pluralism
and international standards in social sciences. In Central
and Eastern Europe
there are tensions between nationalization of history and process of European integrations. That is one of reasons for organized activities aimed toward denationalization of history
.
In cases when history was reinterpreted and filtered by the media and official orthodoxy there is a situation in which nationalization of history leads to its denial.
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
to describe the process of separation of "one's own" history from the common universal history
Universal history
Universal history is basic to the Western tradition of historiography, especially the Abrahamic wellspring of that tradition. Simply stated, universal history is the presentation of the history of humankind as a whole, as a coherent unit.-Ancient authors:...
, by way of perceiving, understanding and treating the past that results with construction of history as history of a nation. If national labeling of the past is not treated with great care, it can result with retrospective nationalization of history and even assigning nonexistent or exaggerating existing national attributes of historical events and persons. Nationalization of history, which began after period of globalization of history, was not only one of causes, but also element and result of process of establishment of modern nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
s (national revival
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
).
Universal history
Universal history
Universal history is basic to the Western tradition of historiography, especially the Abrahamic wellspring of that tradition. Simply stated, universal history is the presentation of the history of humankind as a whole, as a coherent unit.-Ancient authors:...
, the result of a universal, cosmopolitan interpretation of historical events and mankind as a whole, coherent unit, preceded the nationalization of history. In the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
, this motivation to imagine a universal history became influential in the 18th century when numerous philosophers promoted new cosmopolitan ideologies, after the ethno-religious conflicts of the previous century, and the subsequent consolidation of states which attempted to impose themselves over religious particularisms. Colonial experience (many Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries had colonies) exposed society in Europe to numerous different cultures and civilizations. It is also very important to take in consideration that 18th century was in the age of enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
with peoples activities, both on individual and social level, were determined with desire to follow rational scientific judgment while changing the society, which released them from restraints of customs and arbitrary authorities based on faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
, superstition
Superstition
Superstition is a belief in supernatural causality: that one event leads to the cause of another without any process in the physical world linking the two events....
, or revelation
Revelation
In religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing, through active or passive communication with a supernatural or a divine entity...
and backed up by religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
or tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
. All this circumstances provided suitable surrounding for development of universalistic, liberal and rational global perspectives in studies of society and its past and writing historical texts.
In his Essay on customs (1756) Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
studied development of civilization in the world with universal perspective, rejecting tradition, christian and national frames. He was significantly influenced by Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet was a French bishop and theologian, renowned for his sermons and other addresses. He has been considered by many to be one of the most brilliant orators of all time and a masterly French stylist....
and his work Discourse on the Universal history (1682) when he was first who seriously attempted to write history of the world, without limits imposed by nation or religion, emphasizing economical, cultural and political history. Imanuel Kant developed idea about universally applicable moral imperatives in his work Perpetual Peace (1795) and designed a plan for establishing cosmopolitian
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. This is contrasted with communitarian and particularistic theories, especially the ideas of patriotism and nationalism...
liberal order which would result with perpetual peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
. Universalism of 18th century created ideology which in modern form could be identified as modern civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
.
Emerging of modern historiography is connected with German universities in 19th century and significant influence of Leopold von Ranke
Leopold von Ranke
Leopold von Ranke was a German historian, considered one of the founders of modern source-based history. Ranke set the standards for much of later historical writing, introducing such ideas as reliance on primary sources , an emphasis on narrative history and especially international politics .-...
who insisted on objectivity and systematic use of historical documents in shape of authentic primary sources and his credo was to perform reconstruction of the past "as it was". Ranke's universal precepts in virtually all his works were, however, applied almost exclusively to the history of states and nations .
Causes of Nationalization of history
Though nationalization of history could probably be traced from the earliest phases of creating historical works, it was period after French revolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
that creating of historical works started to be strongly influenced by national perspectives, and that perspective gradually became globally dominant with its culmination during 19th and at the beginning of 20th century. Nationalism was estimated as proper perspective in such extent, that nationalization of history remained unnoticed till recently (1980s and 1990s) and was not studied in historiography in scale that would correspond to its significance.
Many various reasons, depending on the circumstances, caused nationalization of history. Probably most important is national revival
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
, which important element was nationalized history, that resulted with emerging of modern nations and nation-states, mostly during 19th century. With emerging of national states, global universal approach in writing history lost ground to the nation state and was very much captured by it even in significant part of 20th century. The professionalization and institutionalization of history
Professionalization and institutionalization of history
Professionalization and institutionalization of history is term used in historiography to describe process of professionalization of the historical discipline with historians becoming professionals through process of special education, and genesis of historical institutions they founded.-...
that took part in nation state's institutions during 19th and first half of 20th century was closely connected with process of history's increasing nationalization. Nationalization of history was additionally entrenched by the development of national curricula in schools based on "monumental and prestigious" series of "authoritative" national stories often written in insular style and justificatory manner.
Demarcation line
A demarcation line means simply a boundary around a specific area, but is commonly used to denote a temporary geopolitical border, often agreed upon as part of an armistice or ceasefire.See the following examples:...
. Therefore it was necessary to establish national historical character of certain territories and settlements, like in case between Germany and Poland and Versailles treaty when numerous historians prepared short studies in attempt to support territory demands based of Germany or Poland.
After Second World War and process of decolonization
Decolonization
Decolonization refers to the undoing of colonialism, the unequal relation of polities whereby one people or nation establishes and maintains dependent Territory over another...
, process of establishing new countries that gave additionally stimulated nationalization of history because "new flags
FLAGS
The FLAGS pipeline is a natural gas pipeline in the North Sea which is used to transport liquids and associated gas from the following fields:* Cormorant A* North Cormorant* North West Hutton...
requested new histories". Even when citizens of newly established countries already had their national identity built, nationalization of history in those cases was aimed to creation of new national identity based on citizenship. Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is example of attempt of nationalization of history to create shared, historically rooted identity for English and French Canadians.
Causes of nationalization of history in former communist regimes, mostly at the end of 20th century, can be also found in reaction on long-term submission to communist historical interpretations and forced disregard for bourgeois nationalistic past. In cases where one of results of coloured revolutions (i.e. Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
,...) was desire to gain symbolic distance from Soviet past, nationalization of history was tool for externalizing the communist past and rediscovery of European national identity of nation.
Renationalization of history
If first phase of nationalization of history was forcibly suppressed by anational ideology (communismCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
) or traumatic losing of wars (Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, ...) there can be second phase, renationalization of history, on usually changed basis and perspective of nationalism.
Renationalization of history on Ukrainian example
Nationalization of history in UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
had two separate phases:
- First phase began at the middle of 19th century and reached its culmination in Mykhailo HrushevskyMykhailo HrushevskyMykhailo Serhiyovych Hrushevsky was a Ukrainian academician, politician, historian, and statesman, one of the most important figures of the Ukrainian national revival of the early 20th century...
's “History of Ukraine - Rus'”. This phase lasted till the end of Second World War when it was stopped because of political changes in Soviet Union, while in diasporas Hrushevsky's text had cultCultThe word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
status. - Second phase started at the 1980s and still (2010) lasts, as consequence of direct state sponsorship becoming integral part of nationalization of the state. At the beginning, it was not so intensive, but after its turning point on August 24, 1991, it achieved special purposes: to legitimize newly established stateState (polity)A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
and its governing elites, establishing territorial and chronological conceptions of Ukrainian nation, and to confirm appropriateness of its existence as legal successor in the consciousness of its citizens and neighbours.
First phase chronologically coincided with process of "rediscovery of tradition" and national revival
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
that captured whole Europe, while second phase takes place in period of globalization, vanishing cultural frontiers and aggressive international forms of mass culture.
Nation mythologies, histories and states
One of the most important consequences of printPublishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
ed text
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
s of nationalized of history is providing basis for national revival
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
s in process of creating of modern nations. Projects of national awakenings captured nationalized history and turned it in weapon of popularization of national myths in the period of establishing history as social scientific discipline. Shortcut to production of national mythologies that proves ancient origins of modern nations providing them with respectable past was forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
of historical documents, literature and historical works that were lost for some time, and then suddenly rediscovered to approval of astonished grateful public
Public
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individuals, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science,...
. Authors of such rediscovered treasures that were in quest for success
Social status
In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, for example son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc....
and glory, did not suspect that they were in fact builders of as yet nonexistent modern nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
s. Even when it was obvious that certain texts are basically invented national myths, many social groups, and even intellectuals, wanted to believe that they are authentic national epics, like Kalevala
Kalevala
The Kalevala is a 19th century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology.It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
The nationalization of history, which had its origins more in the epics and tendentious oratory
Oratory
Oratory is a type of public speaking.Oratory may also refer to:* Oratory , a power metal band* Oratory , a place of worship* a religious order such as** Oratory of Saint Philip Neri ** Oratory of Jesus...
then in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, sometimes grew up idea of an esprit des peuples or national spirit, and, later still, the idea of the 'mission' of each nationality. Such ideas did not evolve into groups of associated individuals, but into universal spirits that can destroy individuals and nations.
Nationalization of history was important element of national revival and creating new nation states in 19th and beginning of 20th century. New nation states and their institutions had most important role in social process of the professionalization and institutionalization of history
Professionalization and institutionalization of history
Professionalization and institutionalization of history is term used in historiography to describe process of professionalization of the historical discipline with historians becoming professionals through process of special education, and genesis of historical institutions they founded.-...
that was additionally supporting process of nationalization of history. Final consequence was that national history regarded nation-state as primary unit of historical analysis.
Society and nature
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. This is result of the fact that nationalization of history corresponds with nationalization of the nature, and with fact that reserves and hostilities toward other nations accompanied nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
from the beginning. At the end of 20th century there was extreme nationalistic interpretation of the history on Balkan and Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
which became powerful weapon in ethno-territorial conflicts and accelerated disintegration of multinational states like Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
After disintegration of multinational states like Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
sometimes, besides the process of renationalization of history, there is also retroactive nationalization of victims or tragedies of the people that in past lived in those states. According to new national historical narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
s, reason for some people being victim
Victim
- In fiction :* The Victim , a 1947 Saul Bellow novel* Victim , a 1961 film featuring Dirk Bogarde* The Victim , a 1980 Hong Kong film directed by and starring Sammo Hung...
s or suffered some tragedies was because they were certain nationality, like in example of Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
and Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
or Croatians and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(Bleiburg massacre
Bleiburg massacre
The Bleiburg massacre, which also encompasses Operation Keelhaul is a term encompassing events that took place during mid-May 1945 near the Carinthian town of Bleiburg, itself some four kilometres from the Austrian-Slovenian border....
).
Denationalization of history
Nationalization of history has been increasingly called into question and one of its consequences is emerging of process of denationalization of historyDenationalization of history
Denationalization of history is term that is describes process by which international community, the European Union and nongovernmental organizations will prescribe the way in which various countries should come to terms with their past or write their history...
, which is result of intention to change perspective of creating works about history by promoting pluralism
Epistemological pluralism
Epistemological pluralism is the view that different epistemological methodologies are necessary to attain a full description of the world. It arose in opposition to the purely reductionistic enterprise of many fields of science and realism in mathematics.According to David Fideler, Goethe was an...
and international standards in social sciences. In Central
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
there are tensions between nationalization of history and process of European integrations. That is one of reasons for organized activities aimed toward denationalization of history
Denationalization of history
Denationalization of history is term that is describes process by which international community, the European Union and nongovernmental organizations will prescribe the way in which various countries should come to terms with their past or write their history...
.
In cases when history was reinterpreted and filtered by the media and official orthodoxy there is a situation in which nationalization of history leads to its denial.
See also
- Historiography and nationalismHistoriography and nationalismHistoriography is the study of how history is written. One pervasive influence upon the writing of history has been nationalism, a set of beliefs about political legitimacy and "cultural identity". Nationalism has provided a significant framework for historical writing in Europe and in those former...
- Renationalization of history
- Denationalization of historyDenationalization of historyDenationalization of history is term that is describes process by which international community, the European Union and nongovernmental organizations will prescribe the way in which various countries should come to terms with their past or write their history...
- National mysticismNational mysticismNational mysticism is a form of nationalism which raises the nation to the status of numen or divinity. Its best known instance is Germanic mysticism, which gave rise to occultism under the "Third Reich". The idea of the nation as a divine entity was presented by Johann Gottlieb Fichte...