Historical Memory and Foreign Policy

This book explores the uses of the past in foreign policy-making, outlining why and how political leaders refer to historical events, the goals they hope to achieve, and the unintended consequences of their (ab)use of historical memory. It also looks at how political leaders shape domestic collective memories in pursuit of their international agendas and highlight historical events leaders forget, reinterpret or obscure through selective narratives. The chapters discuss a variety of theoretical concepts that shed light on how memory and foreign policy are linked in a complex and reciprocal way, such as the application of historical analogies, the construction of historical narratives, the creation of memory sites, the marginalisation and forgetting of the past, and the securitisation of historical memory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 141 pages
Publication date: 14 October 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book delves into the intricate relationship between historical memory and foreign policy-making, shedding light on the ways in which political leaders utilize historical events in contemporary discourse, the objectives they seek to achieve, and the unintended consequences of their (mis)use of historical memory. It also explores how political leaders shape domestic collective memories to further their international agendas, highlighting instances where historical events are forgotten, reinterpreted, or obscured through selective narratives. The chapters delve into various theoretical concepts that shed light on the interconnectedness of memory and foreign policy, including the application of historical analogies, the construction of historical narratives, the creation of memory sites, the marginalization and forgetting of the past, and the securitization of historical memory.

Through a combination of methodological approaches such as discourse analysis, narrative analysis, and content analysis of securitizing moves, the contributions provide a comprehensive understanding of the interdependence of the international, national, regional, and local dimensions of memory practices and history writing. While primarily focusing on national case studies of foreign policy-making, the collection also reveals how representations of historical events evolve through interactions between political actors at the international level of analysis.

The book originated in the section entitled 'Exploring the Link between Historical Memory and Foreign Policy' at the annual Pan-European Conference of Historical Studies, a forum that brings together scholars from across Europe to explore the complex dynamics between history and international relations. The contributions in this collection reflect the rich and diverse perspectives of the participants, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary research in understanding the past and shaping the future.

Weight: 395g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031151934
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022