A change of paradigm? How the Russian invasion of Ukraine influenced Italian memory laws
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has profoundly reshaped the global socio-political landscape. Since its onset in 2022, democracies worldwide have responded decisively by imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia, severing diplomatic ties, and supporting Ukraine’s self-defence efforts. This article examines the symbolic impact of this violent event on Italy’s contemporary mnemonic framework. Specifically, we explore how Italy’s memory landscape – shaped by its reckoning with fascism and communism after World War II – has been influenced by the invasion. Using qualitative and quantitative narrative analysis, we analyse the mnemonic narratives embedded in Italian memory laws enacted or amended in response to the invasion. Our findings reveal that the Russian invasion has disrupted these narratives, producing notable discrepancies. While some memory laws depict Russia’s aggression as a threat to the post-war international order, others portray Western sanctions against Russia as detrimental to European coexistence, criticizing political leaders for undermining peace and exacerbating tensions.
Source: Contemporary Italian Politics
Authors: Polina Zavershinskaia, Francesco Spera
Institutions: Leipzig University, University of Salento
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4405384184