HISTORICAL MEMORY OF BELARUSIANS: A SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW

Abstract

Historical memory is viewed as a dynamic phenomenon of social consciousness, based on subjective knowledge, assessments and opinions of individuals about their historical past. Historical memory is one of the key components of culture, maintaining continuity between different generations and preserving connection between the present and the past of a society. The main differences in the perception of past events among three generations of Belarusians are addressed: those born in 1960 and earlier, born between 1961 and 1980, and born in 1981 and later. It is concluded that estimates of the significance of historical events and periods decrease as their chronological distance from the generation age increases. In general, the absence of polarization in the interpretation of events of the past is typical for Belarusian society. The article also provides data on the representation of historical events in the mass media for 2016. According to the results of the content analysis, it is established that the modern Belarusian socio-political media actively cover the most diverse issues related to the Belarusian history, while emphasizing the most significant historical events, and also strive to form in their readers an understanding of the importance and necessity of preserving the accumulated historical and cultural heritage.