Conflicts over Past Heritage and Memory in Croatia: an Academic-Lay Publication in the Grips of Ideology (Abstract)

U radu se iznosi teza da u Hrvatskoj supostoje konfliktne memorije ustaštva i komunizma te da sukobi oko režima memorije nastaju na svakodnevnoj razini, unatoč tomu što je 70 odnosno 25 godina proteklo od nestanka ustaškog i komunističkog poretka. Nadalje se tvrdi da su konfliktne memorije reproducirane od strane političara i politiziranih medija te da se upravo zbog toga označitelji “komunist” i “ustaša” osnažuju u svakodnevnom diskursu. U potkrijepu navedenih teza iznosi se kontroverza oko jednoga znanstveno-popularnog zbornika.The paper argues that vexed and divisive memories of Fascism and Communism persist in Croatia, with conflicts over memory regimes featuring in public discourse on an everyday basis, notwithstanding the fact that seventy and twenty-five years have elapsed since the collapse of the Ustasha (fascist) and communist regimes respectively. It is further argued that this memory divide is constantly reproduced by politicians and the mainstream media. Thus, what at first sight might appear to be empty signifiers—Communism and Fascism— are constantly reinforced in everyday discourse. The argument is elaborated through examining a case study concerning allegations made against an academic-lay publication