In this master's thesis, I examine the role of collective memory in the construction of states’ temporary security in the context of the war in Gaza. The central focus of the analysis is the question of why and how states maintain consistent positions in times of crisis – positions often rooted in an internalized understanding of their own history. I depart from the assumption that political elites, when responding to crises, do not act solely based on current (security) interests, but rather draw upon collective memory as a means to preserve the integrity of the current Self and, consequently, ensure temporary security. The thesis is grounded in a constructivist theoretical framework and the concept of the “significant historical Other”, understood as a historically grounded actor through which a state shapes its identity. Using thematic and content analysis of media coverage, I examine the official positions of the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Republic of South Africa regarding the Gaza war (October 2023).The findings indicate that each of the analyzed states responds to the conflict in a manner consistent with its historical experience: Germany expresses support for Israel based on historical responsibility and collective guilt; South Africa shows solidarity with Palestinians through the lens of its own experience of apartheid; while the United Kingdom maintains a neutral and colonial-legacy-inflected discourse. In times of crisis, all three states reproduce identity routines that reinforce their temporal security, with collective memory functioning as a central stabilizing factor of temporal security
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