The Use of History

This paper examines the policy of monument construction in socialist Yugoslavia, focusing on their function as sites of collective memory of the People's Liberation Struggle, as well as their broader, multifaceted role, exemplified by the monument at Petrova Gora. Special attention is given to the ways in which the state regime’s use of history contributed to the construction and reinforcement of the ruling ideology. The legacy of the People’s Liberation Struggle, understood also as a socialist revolution, played a crucial role in legitimizing communist authority and shaping socialist ideology. Within this context, monuments functioned not only as commemorative spaces but also as instruments of cultural, educational, and touristic development. Petrova Gora, as a site of historical significance and a symbol of Yugoslav brotherhood and unity, serves as a paradigmatic example of the entanglement of memory politics, regional development, and ideological formation aimed at creating the new socialist man.