Securitization of memory and dilemma of mnemonic security

Abstract

The article examines the phenomenon of memory securitization, its premises and consequences, including the use of historical arguments in interstate interactions and geopolitical competition. The efforts to securitize historical narratives and symbolic practices often turn into dictate by dominant mnemonic actors. By using normative judgements and tools of protection of physical and public security, they seek to consolidate a certain interpretation of the past in public opinion. On the international arena, competitive relations of state-related actors on the issues of historical memory may reproduce the classic security dilemma, albeit with particular adjustments. The dilemma of mnemonic security arises when a historical narrative, which serves as a «foundation myth» for a state A or plays a large role for uniting the community within this state, is systematically challenged by influential forces that act on behalf of the community, which is represented by state B. In case when institutions of the state B provide sustained support to these efforts, then the political elites of the state A faces the following choice: either to ignore such actions or to develop its own set of measures aimed at counteracting this undermining of «one's own» narrative and at discrediting historical narratives that are important for uniting the community in the state В.