Ilyn L. The Influence of Historical Narratives on Legal Consciousness

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33098/2078-6670.2025.19.31.54-60

Purpose. The article aims to identify the mechanisms through which historical narratives influence the formation of legal consciousness at both individual and societal levels, taking into account the cultural context, political memory, and specific features of the legal tradition. The focus is placed on both the constructive and destructive consequences of historical discourse for legal culture development and the legal system’s legitimization. Method. In the course of studying the influence of historical narratives on legal consciousness, a complex of interdisciplinary methods was applied, including hermeneutic analysis of texts and discourses, a structural-functional approach to examining legal consciousness as an element of the legal system, comparative legal analysis of legal culture models in historical and contemporary contexts, as well as socio-cultural and narrative analysis aimed at uncovering the mechanisms of constructing collective memory that shapes perceptions of legitimacy, justice, and the functions of law. Results. The study revealed that historical narratives reflect the collective interpretation of the past and actively shape perceptions of justice, the boundaries of legitimate authority, and acceptable forms of legal behavior. It was established that the content and sources of narratives (official, alternative, traumatic) determine the level of trust in law within a post-totalitarian society. The role of institutions (education, media, memory policy) was identified as a key channel influencing legal consciousness by representing historical experience. It is substantiated that the transformation of legal culture in Ukraine occurs under the influence of a conflict between the Soviet legacy and the national-liberation narrative, exacerbated by martial law conditions. Scientific novelty. A comprehensive theoretical and legal conceptualization of the historical narrative as a factor in transforming legal consciousness in a post-totalitarian national context has been carried out for the first time. Practical significance. The results obtained can be used in developing educational programs, media strategies, and state memory policy to foster a democratic legal culture.

Key words: historical narrative, legal consciousness, collective memory, legal culture, legitimacy, memory policy, post-totalitarian society, national identity.

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