Archiwum Filozofii Prawa i Filozofii Społecznej

Nostalgic Constitutional Identity

Redakcja — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 19:49:52 +0000

Dr Michał Stambulski

University of Zielona Góra

English abstract: The paper deals with the link between the notions of constitutional identity and nostalgic collective memory. Starting from the notion of nostalgia of postmodern society as used in social theory, it shows that this cultural condition is reflected in in constitutions. The point of reference for contemporary political projects is no longer the future but the past. Longing for a lost homeland becomes a dominant social emotion. The author shows that this vision of the past is present in constitutions, especially in post-communist countries. It influences constitutional identity and, due to different temporal structures, is in conflict with the constitutional identity of the EU. The article ends with an analysis of the consequences of such a politics of nostalgia and the possible defence mechanisms against it.

Keywords: constitutional identity, collective memories, nostalgia

Language: English

Published: Number 3(21)/2019, pp. 95-106.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36280/AFPiFS.2019.3.95

Download: Download
Number of downloads: 569

Collective Memories, Institutions and Law

Redakcja — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 19:41:35 +0000

Prof. dr Adam Czarnota, Mgr Justyna Jezierska,
Dr Michał Stambulski

University of New South Wales / University of Wrocław /
University of Zielona Góra

English abstract: This paper aims at explaining the concepts of collective memory, institutions, politics, law, as well as relations between them. By means of a short explanation of a network of mutual relations between these notions, we want to show how law and collective memories interact and how the relation between them is formed. At the same time, we see three modes of relations between collective memories and law: 1) past before the law, 2) memory laws and 3) law as collective memory. The first view consists in evaluating the past under a court trial. The second one in creating legal rules which promote or demand commemoration of a specific vision of the past. The third approach perceives law itself as institutionalized collective memory.

Keywords: collective memories, institutions, memory laws, politics of memory

Language: English

Published: Number 3(21)/2019, pp. 6-21.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36280/AFPiFS.2019.3.6

Download: Download
Number of downloads: 85