Political Myths in Slovenia & Poland: Typologies, Cases, and Impact on Nationalism

1. Typologies of PoliticalMyths Religion and Politics, Cases of Slovenia & Poland AnamariaDutceac Segesten May 7th, 2009

2. Definitions of PoliticalMyth Myth as “a vision of the future which makes crude but practical sense of the present” (George Sorel 1990:19). Myth “functions as a timeless model”, which “deprives historical phenomena of their specificity and transforms them to [sic] omnipotent patterns” (Törnquist – Plewa 1992:14). Myth as “a tale concerned with past events, giving them a special meaning and significance for the present and thereby reinforcing the authority of those who are wielding power in a particular community” (Friedrich and Brzezinski 1961: 99).

3. Functions of Myth Integrative function: Myth - an instrument of self definition for the community (Schöpflin, 1997: 22), stronger ties within group, clear boundaries towards the out-groups Cognitive function: Mythical thinking is an instrument of chaos control, of introducing some regularity into the seeming randomness of the visible universe Communicative function: strong capacity for emotional mobilization. Myths “mobilize, energize, and even instigate large groups into action” (Tismaneanu 1998: 9) by appealing to the “infrarational segments of political behaviour” (15)

4. Types of Myth Numerous ways to categorize myths According to the time-arrow direction A) Foundational: past-oriented; focus on the origins of the community; communicate a system of values and norms; e.g. Golden Ages B) Eschatological: future-oriented; propose a vision of the future, a way to escape the present morass and to found a new Golden Age; most commonly cause of political mobilization; action-oriented

5. Types of Myth (cont.) A) Salvationist: authoritarian. Need of a strong leader able to save the situation and lift the country out of its current dire straits B) Messianic: nationalist. nation as having a special mission, endowed with particular characteristics that place it above other nations and thus a privileged leader C) Vengeful. Guilt and responsibility outside the group; compensation needed for past suffering in the name of moral superiority D) Reactionary. Conservative, anti-revolutionary. Refuse change, prefer to return to an idealized past.

6. Types of Myth (cont.) Archetypes: the Conspiracy, the Saviour, the Golden Age and the Unity (Girardet, 1986). Myths of territory: “the cradle of civilization”, “promised land”. Primacy of arrival and inhabitation - legitimacy to claims over land Myth of kinship and shared descent: the modern nation, as an extended family Myths of redemption and suffering: bright future guaranteed by the expiation of sins

7. Myths of unjust treatment: conspiracy, fatalism; responsibility given to objective and inescapable forces like the laws of history or assigning blame to other, enemy, groups Myths of election: group is endowed by nature or by divine right with special qualities Myths of military valor: male values of courage, honor and generosity are promoted to national value status Myths of rebirth and renewal: a dark period of decline is to be followed by a new cycle of prosperity and glory for the community

8. Myth of divineelection Myth of divine election – a community’s collective belief in its nomination by the deity for a special destiny Strong Biblical tradition, but not only (see Arabs) Types: missionary and covenantal; 4 strategies of ethnic survival: imperial-dynastic, communal-demotic, emigrant colonist, and diaspora-restoration Case of the USA: e.g. Reagan, Bush “Chosenness is the supreme guarantor of ethnic durability” – true or false? Which impact on nationalism?