Lietuvos romų genocido atmintis kaip atminties kūrėjų veikimo laukas /

Memory of Lithuanian Roma Genocide as a Field for Mnemonic Actors Memory of Lithuanian Roma genocide in this qualitative case study is seen as a subject of manipulation. Since actor-centered view of the development of historical memory is applied in this study, the research focuses on mnemonic actors also known as memory entrepreneurs. Respectively, this study attempts to examine to what extent public and private actors have been instrumental in the construction of creating memorialization practices associated with Lithuanian Roma genocide. It is assumed in this work that transnational actors such as European Union might have been substantial to the memorialization processes in the memory regime of Lithuanian Roma genocide. The content of this research consists of three parts. The first one examines the definition of memory entrepreneurs given by E. Jelin and its relation to the concept of mnemonic actors developed by Bernhard and Kubik. The idea to “transnationalize” the framework of Bernhard and Kubik is introduced in the first part as well. The second part introduces the methodology of this case study. It presents the main means to analyze the actions and initiatives of Roma genocide memory entrepreneurs in Lithuania. As a tool to look deeper into the network of Lithuania Roma genocide memory, semi-structured interviews with presumptive memory creators, focusing on several main themes (such as: whether the actor has the features of memory entrepreneur; if so, what are actor’s origins, specific areas of activity, discourse; which categories are used by actor to describe memory regime of Lithuanian Roma genocide; what determines actor’s choices, how the relations between actor and other memory creators can be described; whether the actor participates in the negotiations on memory, what political calculations he or she does; are there any transnational ties in actor’s activities or motives; and what can be said about Lithuanian Roma genocide memory regime according the information given by this actor) are chosen. In the last part of this study the main focus goes on the results of previously conducted interviews. It was found that the case of Lithuania is extraordinary because of the structure of its memory regime: instead of memory conflicts, so called “forgotten memory” describing this regime was indicated. The research has revealed the absence of actors exclusively focusing on Lithuanian Roma genocide memory, as well as transnational actors performing in Lithuania. Therefore it was found that the impact of transnational processes can be researched by examining local actors. The study shows that European Union institutions have indirect influence on the Lithuanian Roma genocide memory development. In other words, Lithuanian Roma genocide memory entrepreneurs are local, but their ties and motives are transnational. Local individuals, driven by personal interests such as historical justice or empathy, are also important in the processes of memory creation. To conclude, the theoretical model of Bernhard and Kubik was extended by adding to their theory the approach of transnational memory, also including such types of memory entrepreneurs as direct, vicarious, individual and institutional. This research enables studying memory of Lithuanian Roma genocide as a field of memory entrepreneurs. It consequently allows making conclusions about memory regime in which mnemonic actors operate. However, it is important to notice that in this case study only those elements that characterize memory entrepreneurs of Lithuanian Roma genocide were examined. Therefore it might be useful to research the entire regime of Lithuanian Roma genocide memory. Theoretical model used in this study with certain modifications is suitable to research other cases of Central-Eastern Europe as well as to study the memory of the other groups suffered from Holocaust, such as homosexual people and persons with disabilities.

Grantor dc:publisher

Institutional Repository of Vilnius University

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Jutelytė, Aurėja,

Contributors dc:contributor

• Giedraitytė, Ieva

Statement dc:rights

• info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Language dc:language

lit

Repository record dc:identifier

https://repository.vu.lt/VU:ELABAETD35558538&prefLang=en_US

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vu.lt:elaba:35558538