Legislating Memory: The Use of Law to Shape Historical Consciousness in Divided Societies
Keywords:
memory laws, historical consciousness, transitional justice, post-conflict societies, legal memory politics, national identity, collective memory, reconciliation, freedom of expression, comparative lawAbstract
This article explores how laws are used to shape historical memory in post-conflict and ideologically divided societies, examining their impact on national identity and collective remembrance. A scientific narrative review using a descriptive analysis method was conducted. Academic literature, legal texts, and policy documents published between 2020 and 2025 were analyzed to identify typologies, functions, and impacts of memory laws across diverse geopolitical contexts. Comparative case studies from Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia were used to illustrate the global application of legal memory politics. The analysis revealed several key types of memory laws, including genocide denial statutes, truth and reconciliation frameworks, heroization or criminalization of historical figures, and heritage protection laws. These laws serve multiple functions, such as promoting national unity, facilitating reconciliation, or entrenching dominant political narratives. Comparative cases demonstrated that memory laws can aid transitional justice efforts but also risk backfiring by silencing dissent, marginalizing minorities, or politicizing history. Their success largely depends on inclusivity, transparency, and alignment with broader justice initiatives. Memory laws are powerful tools that can either support or undermine democratic values, depending on how they are designed and implemented. When grounded in pluralism and historical accountability, they can contribute meaningfully to reconciliation and civic trust. However, when used to enforce rigid or exclusionary narratives, they threaten to deepen societal divides and restrict critical engagement with the past.
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