State’s internal image and cultural memory: a theoretical and methodological framework for post-conflict societies analysis

The paper has a theoretical and methodological focus and is devoted to the development of an analytical framework for the study of a state’s internal  image as a socio-cultural structure formed in the dynamics of collective memory. The main focus is on post-conflict societies in which the processes of legitimization of power and social integration are particularly acutely dependent on the interpretation of the past. The methodological strategy is based on sociology of culture, the theory of collective and cultural memory, as well as the symbolic power concept. An interdisciplinary approach has been applied that combines methods of comparative historical analysis, conceptual modeling, and narrative interpretation. In the course of the analysis, the concept of a state’s internal image as a system of symbolic representations rooted in memory and everyday practices has been clarified. The mechanisms of its formation through the institutionalization of historical narratives, ritualized practices, and media mediation have been revealed. The developed conceptual model describes the interaction among cultural memory, symbolic politics, and citizens’ socio-cultural perception, reflecting the structure of forming a state’s image in the context of post-traumatic experience. The novelty of the research lies in the integration of theoretical developments in memory studies and sociology of legitimation within a single sociological perspective. It has been shown that cultural memory serves not only as a resource of identity, but also as a mechanism for reproducing trust, belonging, and a sense of “one’s own” state. The proposed model has both explanatory and applied potential for analyzing state memory policy, memorial practices, and post-conflict consolidation strategies.

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