Collective memory in the configuration of social identity: a comparative chronological perspective

Abstract

Due to the existing challenges in how shared cultural and historical elements—as well as differences in memory processes—affect the development of a distinct national identity in each country, it becomes necessary to understand the role of collective memory. This is because it not only strengthens social cohesion but also serves as a pillar of resistance and cultural construction. The general objective is to identify the common elements and divergences in the ways these societies remember and reinterpret their past, and how these memories contribute to their cultural and social identity. To achieve this, a qualitative paradigm was employed, using a descriptive-exploratory approach and a qualitative comparative analysis method. This allowed for the observation of how shared experiences and historical conflicts have been remembered or reinterpreted in the cultural narratives of each country. Among the findings, notable similarities include the use of legends and traditions to reinforce national identity, while significant differences were observed in the narratives about periods of foreign intervention and internal conflicts, which have shaped each country’s perception of historical memory in distinct ways. In conclusion, collective memory in Panama and Nicaragua functions as a crucial mechanism of identity, where shared narratives foster cohesion, while differentiated experiences reflect the particularities of each nation's history. This underscores the importance of historical memory in the construction of a collective identity that adapts to and responds to the cultural and political realities of each nation.