Socialist heritage in comparative perspective

Bilateral project run by SIR ZRC SAZU and Department for history and theory of culture St Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia, Bulgaria is a result of joint interest in researching recent (socialist) past of the two European societies. The research approached the topic from comparative perspective and understood the object not only as political, institutional system, but primarily as cultural codes.

The team understands memory as a cultural practice which is essential for making sense of social realities of the two societies. Thus we aim to facilitate more comprehensive understanding of processes through which individuals and social groups redefine their relationship to the socialist past. In this respect we critically examine the consequences theses processes have for social life in the post-socialist present.