Slovakia, Nationalism, and Small-State Remembering

The paper explores the relationship between Slovakia’s remembering practices and foreign policy decisions. Specifically, the paper argues that small states like Slovakia face a dilemma between favoring influence and protecting sovereignty. It also examines how this dilemma plays out in the context of Slovakia’s public responses to its complicity and collaboration in the Holocaust. The study presented here aims to understand why and when Slovakia took niche positions, with a particular focus on the role of international pressure, shaming, and other external factors in shaping its foreign policy decisions. Through this, the paper sheds light on how nationalism and small-state remembering can impact foreign policy decisions and the role of historical memory in shaping national identity.