How Can Memories of Past In-Group Crimes Be Integrated in Positive National Identity?

The paper proposes the idea that clarity of historical narratives meant for descendents of groups that were responsible for war crimes may be seen as a tool for enhancing mature reconciliation processes between descendents of former enemies. Commenting data of an empirical research on different reactions of young Italian participants, receiving a clear vs. an evasive narrative of in-group crimes during Ethiopia's invasion, the paper stresses how negative emotions produced by the clear narratives were linked to stronger willigness to be ready for reparative actions towards the group of descendents of former victims. These data suggest how clear narratives of in-group crimes, threatening the positive aspects of social identity of descendents of former perpetrators, may enhance intergroup reconciliation via a stronger readiness to integroup helping between groups of former enemies.