minneplikt

Minneplikt is a term used in Swedish-language discourse to denote a duty to remember certain events, people, or experiences. It is not a single codified legal obligation, but rather a concept that appears in public debate, cultural policy, and education. The word combines minne (memory) with plikt (duty), signaling an expectation that society or institutions will retain and convey memory rather than let it fade.

The concept is applied in various domains, including public policy, culture, museum practices, and archiving. Proponents argue that a shared memory helps safeguard democracy, teaches lessons from past abuses, and honors victims. Critics warn that minneplikt can be vague, potentially instrumentalized, or used to impose prescriptive memorial narratives that suppress alternative interpretations.

In practice, discussions about minneplikt often involve decisions about what to commemorate, how to present difficult histories, and who is included in collective memory. It can guide funding for museums, the design of memorial sites, school curricula, and official commemorations.

The term is common in Nordic and European contexts dealing with post-conflict memory, genocide remembrance, and totalitarian history, though its exact implications vary widely between institutions and communities.

See also: collective memory, remembrance, memory culture, memorialization, Holocaust remembrance.