Collective Memory in International Relations

Description

Collective memory carries the past into the present. This book traces the influence of collective memory in international relations (IR). It locates the origins of a country's memory within the international environment and inquires how memory guides states through time in world politics. Collective memory, as such, not only shapes countries and their international interactions, but the international sphere also plays an essential role in how countries approach thepast.Through in-depth examinations of both domestic and international landscapes in empirical cases, the book explores four ways in which collective memory can manifest in IR: as a country's political strategy; as its public identity; as its international state behaviour; and finally, as a source for its national values. A comparative case study of (West) Germany and Austria illustrates how significantly differing interpretations of the Nazi legacy impacted their respective international policiesover time. Taken together, this book investigates whether collective memory influences global outcomes and how and why it matters for IR. Cover Collective Memory in International Relations Copyright Dedication Acknowledgements Table of Contents List of Tables and Figures List of Abbreviations Introduction: Collective Memory in International Relations The Argument Research Design Case Selection Research Methods Structure of the Book 1: Temporal Security in IR: Combining Ontological Security with Collective Memory Conceptualizing Ontological Security: The Security of Being The Nexus between State Identity and State Behaviour Anxiety, Shame, and the Ongoing Self-Reflective Struggle over Being Ontological Continuity Instead of Security The Self ’s Temporal Dimension Theorizing Collective Memory: The Securing of Identity Collective Memory as a Social Process Collective Memory as a Country’s Historical Identity Collective Memory as a National Narrative Towards a Temporal Conceptualization of State Identity Building Temporal Security: The Security of Being-in-Time Manifesting Collective Memory in International Relations: Memory as a Country’s Strategy, Identity, Behaviour, and Values Structure of the Following Chapters 2: Memory as Political Strategy The Origins of a Country’s Memory Who Wants to Remember? Memory as an International Strategy The Case Study: Former Nazi States on the Post-WorldcWar II International Stage The International Memory Context in the Post-World War II Decade The Origins of the West German Memory of Guilt Reparations for Israel The Origins of the Austrian Memory of Victimhood Credit Agreement Instead of Reparations for Israel Conclusion: Memory Originates as an International Strategy 3: Memory as Public Identity Memory Becomes a Country’s Identity The Case Study: Former Nazi States React to the Trial of Adolf Eichmann Adolf Eichmann on Trial in Jerusalem Shame and Confrontation: The West German Public Watches the Eichmann Trial Outrage and Irritation: The Austrian Public Watches the Eichmann Trial ‘Bring the Full Truth to Light and Do Justice!’: The Official West German Reaction to the Trial ‘Eichmann Was Not Austrian!’: The Official Austrian Reaction to the Trial Signalling Moral Responsibility: The West German Delegation to Jerusalem Defending Innocence: The Austrian Delegation to Jerusalem Conclusion: Memory with Time Forms Public Identity 4: Memory as State Behaviour Memory Channels a Country’s Behaviour The Memory–State Behaviour Nexus The Emotion of Shame as the Corrective for State Behaviour The Case Study: Former Nazi States React to the Middle East Conflict The Six Day War of 1967 The Public Perception of the Six Day War in West Germany and Austria Varying Reasons behind Public Support for Israel in West Germany and Austria Former Nazi States Take Sides in the Middle East Conflict The Persistent Influence of the Threat of Shame: The West German Reaction in 1973 Avoiding Shame: The Austrian Decision in 1967 Avoiding Shame by Confirming Victimhood: The AustrianReaction in 1973 The Quest for Physical Security: Predicted Behaviour for West Germany and Austria The Quest for Ontological Security: Predicted Behaviour for West Germany and Austria The Quest for Temporal Security: West Germany and Austria during the Middle East Conflict Avoiding Shame: The West German Decision in 1967 Conclusion: Memory over Time Forms State Behaviour 5: Memory as National Values Memory as the Source for a Country’s Values The Ethics of Memory and IR The Practices of Memory Generate Values From the Imperative to Remember to the Duty to Act The Case Study: Germany and Austria Respond to the European Refugee Crisis The German Response to the Refugee Crisis The Memory of Germany’s Nazi Legacy The Partition–Unification Memory The Immigration Memory Different Memories, Different Normative Horizons The Austrian Response to the Refugee Crisis The Memory of Europe’s Nationalisms The Memory of Immigration The Narrative of Austria’s Neutrality Conclusion: Memory over Time Forms National Values Bibliography Index