Published 2019 | Version v1
Journal article

Greedy elites and poor lambs: How young Europeans remember the great war

Others:
University of Warsaw (UW)
Centre de Recherches en Psychologie Cognition et Communication (CRPCC EA 1285) ; Université de Bretagne Sud (UBS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-MEN : EA1285-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2) ; Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Edile-Architettura, Ambientale (DICEAA) ; Università degli Studi dell'Aquila = University of L'Aquila (UNIVAQ)
Études des Structures, des Processus d'Adaptation et des Changements de l'Espace (ESPACE) ; Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS) ; COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Avignon Université (AU)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)
Laboratoire Parisien de Psychologie Sociale (LAPPS) ; Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis (UP8)-Université Paris Nanterre (UPN)
Cognition, Langues, Langage, Ergonomie (CLLE-LTC) ; École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) ; Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA)
Centre d'Etudes de Populations, de Pauvreté et de Politiques Socio-Economiques / International Networks for Studies in Technology, Environment, Alternatives, Development (CEPS/INSTEAD) ; Centre d'Etudes de Populations, de Pauvreté et de Politiques Socio-Economiques / International Networks for Studies in Technology, Environment, Alternatives, Development

Description

The present study examines current social representations associated with the origins of the Great War, a major event that has profoundly affected Europe. A survey conducted in 20 European countries (N = 1906 students in social sciences) shows a high consensus: The outbreak of the war is attributed to the warring nations' leaders while the responsibility of the populations is minimized. Building on the concept of social representation of history (Liu & Hilton, 2005), we suggest that the social representations of the Great War fulfill social psychological functions in contemporary Europe. We suggest that WWI may function as a charter for European integration. Their content also suggests a desire to distinguish a positively valued ingroup ("the people") from powerful elites, construed as an outgroup.

Abstract

International audience

Additional details

Created:
December 4, 2022
Modified:
November 29, 2023