Historical Narratives and Collective Memory; Creating identity or intensifying ethnic conflicts in the South Caucasus

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 FACULTY MEMBER- UNIVERSITY OF TEHRAN

2 University of Isfahan

Abstract

The narratives that have been accepted over time form the collective and historical memory of a nation or ethnic group gradually. This collective memory will gradually become inflexible in dealing with other nations or groups. This will become more complicated if two rival groups in one country or region find their entity in gaining a general acceptance of their narrative from common historical realities. In general, myths, historical narratives, and collective memory are used as tools for shaping ethnic and national identity in different societies. In fact, this is the positive function of existing narratives from historical events. But in many areas, and among many ethnic groups, these tools have also been used as a tool for changing the balance of conflicts, especially historical conflicts. In this way, the present study focuses on the dual function of historical narratives that have been used in important ethnic clashes in the South Caucasus region. These narratives will be importance in understanding the formation, intensification, and continuity of ethnic-territorial conflicts in this region. Therefore, in this study, to find the answer to this question that: what have been the effect of historical narratives and collective memory on the process of ethnic conflicts in the South Caucasus? in addition to examining the role that myths, historical narratives, and collective memory have played in shaping ethnic identity in the South Caucasus region, the impact of these factors on intensifying and deepening the most important ethnic conflicts in the region has been studied.

Keywords

References

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World Politics
Volume 8, Issue 3 - Serial Number 29
February 2020
Pages 75-104

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