Politika vs. história? Diskusie v slovenskej historiografii
Politics versus History? Discussions in Slovak Historiography

Summary/Abstract: The study analyses historiographic discussions about themes which attract a lot of interest in the wider Slovak society. It is especially concerned with the use of the term “Old Slovaks”, the Act Honouring A. Hlinka and various so-called acts on memory. It points to gaps in argumentation, when historians did not use the same arguments in relation to similar problems. Although freedom of speech was frequently mentioned in relation to the Act Honouring A. Hlinka, it was forgotten or less strongly emphasized in the case of other similar legislation, some of it repressive. Similarly, use of the term “Old Slovaks” for the 10th century was said to show eternalization and premordialism, but this argument was not heard, when the term “Slovak” was used for the 12th century. The author explains this by the long-term polarization in Slovak historiography between the “main stream” and “nationally oriented” historians, which appears especially in public polemics concerned with national history. Although mainly younger historians are striving to get away from this bipolar division, their positions in public discussions give it more confirmation. In conclusion, he formulates the view that there is a difference between the political and scientific statements of historians, which could be useful in similar discussions.

• Details
• Contents