Memory Methods: An Introduction

Abstract

This introduction provides a state-of-the-field overview of methodological practices used in the analysis of memory and identity in the post-communist European space. Arguing that theoretical approaches to memory studies have successfully traversed disciplinary boundaries, it posits that methodological innovation continues to be siloed by subject, advancing the case for greater methodological exploration. Having positioned the book as both a broader conversation about and catalogue of cross-disciplinary methods for analysing memory, the introduction then explains the rationale behind the focus on historical narratives in identity construction in Central and Eastern Europe. The instrumentalisation of history for the purposes of identity formation are particularly profound in the post-socialist world, where after 1991 these countries needed to create new pasts to shape their new futures. However, this intensity also allows for the identification of patterns and findings relevant beyond the region, enhancing discussions on how best to analyse such topics in both this and other regions. The introduction closes by providing a brief overview of the contributing chapters, showing how they challenge and enhance memory research both individually and as a collection.