ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the theoretical framework. It discusses the constructivist approach to nationalism and distinguishes various types of nationalism. It argues that the nationalism of Law and Justice is exclusionary and authoritarian. The chapter defines collective memory in terms of a dynamic process of communication and reception entangled in power relations, taking place under conditions of hegemonic memory structures. It introduces the notion of a key memory symbol and a collective emotional field in the context of hegemony. It refers to the model of decoding hegemonic content and discusses the emotional dimension of engagement in reception.
