Antagonistic Memories and Populist Mobilization: Unravelling Everyday Memory Practices in Central and Eastern Europe's Silesian Borderland

0578848 - EÚ 2024 eng A - Abstract
Wyss, Johana
Antagonistic Memories and Populist Mobilization: Unravelling Everyday Memory Practices in Central and Eastern Europe's Silesian Borderland.
[Autumn Fellows' Conference 2023, 29.11.2023-29.11.2023]
Method of presentation: Prezentace
Event organizer: The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM)
URL events: https://www.iwm.at/past-events 
Institutional support: RVO:68378076
Keywords : Populism * collective memory * Silesia
OECD category: Antropology, ethnology

The emergence of illiberal movements in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has coincided with a significant politicization of historical memory, leading to the utilization of divisive memories for political advantage. This paper adopts the concept of “mnemonic populism” (Kończal 2020) to undertake an ethnographic exploration of the contested notion of “populism” in relation to antagonistic memories. It examines populism from the bottom-up perspective, focusing on the everyday experiences of regular voters and delving into vernacular memory practices. By analysing how individuals in the Czech (formally Austrian) Silesian borderland reconstruct their historical past through these contentious mnemonic narratives, the study aims to comprehend the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of populist movements in harnessing such narratives for political ends. Furthermore, this research not only provides insights into the distinct dynamics of the Silesian borderland but also enriches our broader comprehension of the intersection between memory and populism.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0347944