Politics of Memory In The Age of Internet: The Institute of National Remembrance and The New Media

Abstract

The paper attempts to answer a question if The commonness of Internet causes a necessity to change a model of The politics of memory. Since, The shift of social life from public to virtual space and The availability of new media cause a decline of traditional instruments’ efficacy, governmental narratives have to adapt to new conditions. We may state that The politics of memory can realize its goal only if It uses new forms of communication, and if It is actively presented In The Internet. These theoretical statements are The starting point for The quantitative analysis of Polish Institute of National Remembrance’s involvement In The virtual sphere, and they enable author to compare It with The Institute’s traditional actions. The analysis is deepened by a case study of The Institute’s narratives on Stalinist Crimes (2000–2010). Collected data enables author to state that The Institutes activity In The Internet has been inadequate. This state causes a limitation of narratives’ influence on social-shared knowledge, social attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, The Institute’s neglects cause reduction of Polish politics of memory’s impact on The young generation – a target group of governmental narratives.