Continuity and Change in German Political Discourse: Holocaust as a Theme in Politics

This bachelor thesis is concerned with the development of political discourse about Holocaust in Germany in the 1990s. It explores one of the most discussed chapters of German history by analysing speeches of selected political players. Political discourse is being viewed as an significant agent of the national process of reconciliation with past and as an element that abets in forming and strengthening of democracy. First part of thesis (1. and 2. chapter) is concerned with the theoretical approach to analysis. It examines contribution of political discourse analysis to political science. It also describes connection between the applied methodology and the object of study and gives reasons why is the work focused on the German parliament. Next part focuses on historical development of political discourse in Germany since 1945. It demonstrates the possibility that changes of such discourse are influenced by political regime and interests of country's main political representatives. The main part of the research is based on a premise that Holocaust as a theme played a significant role in the political speeches in Germany. By the medium of analysing individual speeches of selected policymakers will author come to evaluation of the extent of changes in German political discourse about Holocaust..