Collective memories and society integration issues in context of inter-generation dialogue

Abstract

The article deals with the issue of society integration politics in Latvia, analyzing the question of collective memories becoming a tool for communication between generations on vital themes of Latvian memory politics, such as the issue of 1940 Soviet occupation, the so-called “Soviet times” (1945–1991) and the current activities of various political actors concerning minority rights in Latvia. The major stumbling block of the integration politics until recently has been unsuccessful politics of the past – various controversies of the 20th century have not been treated dialogically, but rather misused by antagonistic political powers to create the negative Other of the political rivals. The result is two decades of a weak and unsuccessful dialogue on the Latvian past.