Ukrainian Studies and Historical Memory: Genesis of Terminology and Relation of Methodology

Abstract

The research deals with the problems of the genesis of the terminology of historical memory and the methodological affinity between Ukrainian studies and historical memory. Even though memory studies and Ukrainian studies have been institutionalised, the ongoing progress of Ukrainian society requires periodic revision or reconciliation of certain fundamental issues in these fields of study. The first question is to consider the term “historical memory” and to attempt to understand what is generally understood by this term. After all, its frequent use in the media or in scientific research articles without a clear definition leads to a blurring of the term itself and the constant need to clarify what exactly is being discussed. This situation can be seen not only in national sources but also in Western ones. In general, it can be stated that there is more of a general sense of what historical memory is than a clear understanding of the term. Also, most of the analysed definitions show that everyone agrees that historical memory is a socially constructed phenomenon. Definitions given in various media, dictionaries, scientific research, and even Wikipedia were considered. The main criticisms of the legitimacy of the term “historical memory” were also analysed. They boil down to two remarks: the tautology of the term and an internal contradiction. The author analyses the peculiarity of historical memory, which includes both individual and collective levels, as opposed to collective memory. The author proposes his own definition of the term historical memory. Special attention is paid to the methodological affinity between Ukrainian studies and historical memory. It is noted that, on the one hand, Ukrainian studies rethink the contents of the historical memory of Ukrainians through the prism of the national view of world history, and on the other hand, that memory studies are an immanent means of Ukrainian studies. In Ukrainian studies and memory studies, postmodern methodologies are also becoming influential research methods, allowing us to move from the "history of an event" to the "history of people".