Historical policy as an instrument of civic identity formation

Abstract

The study’s relevance stems from the growing role of historical policy amid social transformations, information challenges, and hybrid threats, underscoring the need to foster a holistic civic identity. Historical memory in this context acts as an essential tool for the integration and consolidation of society, a resource for legitimising state decisions, a means of national mobilisation, and a factor in the formation of sustainable models of civic behaviour. The purpose of the study is to determine the content, functions, and practical forms of implementing historical policy in the context of establishing civic identity, and to assess its impact on sociocultural unity and political stability. The methodology is based on a combination of systemic, comparative, and institutional approaches, which enabled a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between historical policy and identification processes, as well as the identification of key instruments for its implementation. Elements of content analysis of regulatory legal acts and program documents were applied, enabling the identification of trends in changing approaches to regulating the humanitarian sphere. The study identifies the main areas of historical policy's influence on the formation of civic identity, particularly through educational programs, memorial practices, state public communications, and national memory policy. It is shown that a systematic and consistent historical policy contributes to the formation of an everyday cultural and historical basis that supports an inclusive civic identity, prevents the fragmentation of society and strengthens its resistance to external manipulation. The conclusionsprove that the application of scientific approaches determines the effectiveness of historical policy, the openness of historical discourse, the coherence of institutional actions, and the consistency of the long-term implementation of strategic decisions. The need for further development of regulatory support, for increasing the role of education, and for expanding public dialogue on the past as a prerequisite for the formation of a mature civic identity and for strengthening national unity is emphasised.