Collective memory and the year 1948 in the history of Palestine - Dissertation Histoire

History and the past are important and significant part of politics and society. The recalling of important memories and events that are passed down from one generation to the text are what outline the identity of a state and of a society. The recalling of a memory, event, or moment that is linked to the state or that has caused change in the society is represented by the term political memory or collective memory. Collective memory refers to how groups of people remember their past. It is a cruel and significant part to societies and to identity as well; they influence attitudes, decisions, and approaches to problems.

A political memory that is still causing debates and is remembered every day across the middle east is the political memory of Palestine in 1948. Those who know and remember Palestine will link the year 1948 as a cruel and important year to the state, but why do people not mention the year 1967? which had a six-day war between the neighbouring countries and Israel which had forced the majority of the Palestinians left to leave the state and neighbouring countries in certain cases? The case study will be focusing on why the year 1948 is an important and significant year for all of the Palestinians and to some extent to the Israelis as well? The case will be based on the political identity and description of political memory. In the first part of the case will analytical explain what political memory and what it is important. Later, it will go into detail about the history of Palestine in 1948 and the political events that have happened in that year. For example, it will explain what has happened, how many have been affected by the events, and the political context of the events. In the second part of the paper it will revolve around trying to find an answer to the research question posed in the beginning of the paper. Analyzing the history of the country and the certain events that took place in that year will help to come to a conclusion an to try and find an answer to the question, as well as it will aid in understanding and to have a better grasp on the political issues that are happening in today’s society that are linked to the year 1948 in Palestine.

humans we carry memories and remember certain things that might trigger something whether something that makes us happy or something that makes us sad. We also all have a past whether it’s a history that we are proud of and tell it to the whole world, or a past that we try our best to forget, it is still our past that cannot be changed and cannot be erased. The past, whether to like to admit it or not, is a part of our personal identity and has played a major role into shaping into the people and characters that we are. Just like people that have memories and pasts states and political governments also have a past and history that they try to forget as well, but it is stuck in their memory that is passed down from one generation to the next, this term is collected political memory or collective memory. Political memory or collective memory refers to how groups of people remember their past. Political memory is the recalling of a political event that occurred in the past, with a long-term impact on the state and its history, the political memory would be passed from generation to generation and would be narrated to fit the present.

Collective memories are most likely to be formed and maintained about events that represent significant long-term changes to people\’s lives. A massive political upheaval that results in virtually no major institutional alterations are much less likely to become part of a society\’s collective memory (Pennebaker & Banasik, 1997:17). Collective memory signifies narratives of past experience constituted by and on behalf of specific groups within which they find meaningful forms of identification that may empower. Collective memory helps create the “imagined communities” with which people identify themselves and that give them a sense of history, place and belonging. The groups connected with particular articulations of collective memory vary radically in size and complexity, ranging from nations and ethnic or religious groups to local communities and families. The control of collective memory by nation-states and their constituent social and cultural institutions has increasingly been challenged by changes in the ethnic constitution of nations (Weedon & Jordan, 2012). “Official” political memory is a crucial part of the national common sense or doxa. It shapes individuals’ assumptions about the boundaries of the community, historical allies and enemies, objects of national pride and hatred, and the protagonists of the community’s history, for both celebratory and vilifying reasons (Mihai, 2019).

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