Institutions and instruments for implementing the culture of remembrance in Germany: experience for Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose. The authors of the article reveal that Germany’s national system of institutions and instruments of memory culture has undergone a thorny path of evolution. The scientific novelty. This was due to several significant factors. First, the half-century division of Germany, which ended on October 3, 1990. Second, the long process of «coming to terms with the past» — the legacy of the Third Reich. The result of these nonlinear transformations in the field of German memory culture was 1) the multi-subject nature of institutions dealing with various aspects of memory culture, the leading ones among which are, for example, the Foundation, Institute; 2) the multiplicity of tools for the practical implementation of memory culture; 3) the concept of memory culture; 5) a participatory approach to the discussion, implementation, and responsibility of memory culture. Conclusions. Certain successful German practices may be useful for Ukraine’s strategy and tactics for implementing memory policy. According to the authors of the article, these are: 1) memory culture in Germany is a joint effort of the state, civil society, and business. Unfortunately, such an approach is currently lacking in Ukraine, but its transfer to Ukrainian realities would contribute to the consolidation of the Ukrainian political nation; 2) the activities of German institutions of memory culture are subordinated to the goal of achieving social consensus on the past, which is also relevant for Ukraine; 3) German institutions of memory culture base their activities on a participatory approach, the application of which is also appropriate in Ukraine in the policy of national memory; 4) Implement the German practice of financing memory culture, for example by providing tax incentives to interested businesses.