Suchergebnisse

The most important theme in conflict memory studies has been the "politics of memory." This article, however, argues that memory is also significantly influenced by many apolitical factors, which are typically underresearched. Based on numerous documents and interviews, the article examines the Israeli official, autobiographical, cultural, and historical memories, from 1949 to 2004, of the 1948 Palestinian exodus. Empirically and theoretically, the article offers various contributions, such as the first typology of the three manifestations of the political and apolitical uses of memory, and traces 13 apolitical factors. All these findings are translated into practical implications for the use of peacemakers and others.

Purpose
This paper aims to explore, for the first time over a long period of time, the autobiographical memory of Israeli veterans of the 1948 War, pertaining to the 1948 Palestinian exodus that led to the creation of the Palestinian refugee problem. Does this memory include the Zionist narrative (i.e. willing flight of the Palestinian refugees) or a critical narrative (i.e. willing flight and expulsion)? One of the primary sources to influence the collective memory of conflicts is the autobiographical memory. This memory is also one of the primary sources for research of the past. Thus, autobiographical memory is of importance.


Design/methodology/approach
Methodologically, this is done through an analysis of all 1948 veterans' memoirs published between 1949 and 2004. Interviews were also conducted with various veterans, to understand the dynamics of their memoir publication.


Findings
Empirical findings suggest that during the first period (1949-1968), this memory was exclusively Zionist; during the second (1969-1978), it became slightly critical; and during the third (1979-2004), the critical tendency became more prevalent. Onward, the nine empirical causes for the presentation of exodus the way it was presented are discussed. Theoretical findings relate, inter alia, to the importance of micro factors in shaping the autobiographical memory, assembles seven such theoretical factors, suggests that these factors can influence in two ways (promoting collective memory change or inhibiting it), and that their impact can change over time.


Originality/value
Taken together, the paper contributes empirical and theoretical findings that are based on a solid and wide scope research.

The Publishing Branch at the Education Corps of the Israeli army (IDF) is its main unit charged with disseminating information to its soldiers. This article seeks to determine whether this branch, from 1949 to 2004, chose the institutional/Zionist (voluntary flight) or the critical (voluntary flight accompanied by expulsion) narrative as its official memory of the 1948 Palestinian exodus. By analysing all of the Branch publications produced during that period, the article determines that the Branch presented largely the institutional narrative. Various related phenomena are discussed: the reasons for the publications' narratives, centrality and collective amnesia, internal and external memories, and self and external censorship.