ABSTRACT
The issue of nationalism is inextricably entwined with the problems of social memory and historical consciousness. In post-communist countries the concept of historical consciousness seems untrustworthy to many intellectuals. Its lack of credibility lies in its associations with previous Marxist ideology, historical materialism, theses regarding the dialectics of being and consciousness, and the importance of class consciousness. Expressions of social memory and historical consciousness overlap, but cannot be identified with each other, and one cannot permanently replace the other. The concept of historical consciousness has been used and elaborated in some professional contexts. Historical consciousness can be defined as an "entity" shaped by the interplay of certain components. One of these components is lived historical experience. Another is ideology, particularly state ideology, as states and their regimes use ideological interpretations of history for their legitimation; a particular role is also undoubtedly played by the ideology of political parties.
