The contents, organisation, and functions of living historical memory in Egypt and Morocco

Abstract

The contents and structure of shared collective historical memories among Egyptians and Moroccans were explored by examining their aggregate perceptions of the three most important historical events in living memory. Egyptian living historical memory (LHM) was preoccupied with recent political instability and military history. Moroccan LHM was broader in the domains and events incorporated. Research on institutionalised collective memory and critical consciousness has suggested contradictory relationships between LHM and system justification, national identification, and political engagement. We argue that these sociopolitical functions of LHM are not mutually exclusive but contingent on national context. Latent class analysis of participants’ historical memories showed that both countries split into two groups of people, with one more preoccupied by the foundational history of the nation and the other emphasising modern events. Moroccans in the foundational history group showed higher system justification whereas Egyptians in the foundational history group showed higher identification with their communities. Egyptians whose memories were more historical overall also identified more strongly with their nation. LHM was not related to political engagement in either nation. The social and political implications of these results are discussed.