Memory and Trauma in Post-Colonial Societies: An Analysis of Collective Memory

The legacy of colonialism in post-colonial societies is not only economic and political but profoundly psychological and cultural. This paper examines how collective memory is shaped by the trauma of colonialism and its aftermath, drawing on postcolonial theory, trauma studies, and memory studies. It explores mechanisms of remembering and forgetting historical violence, the role of cultural production (literature, film, monuments) in representing and contesting memory, and the political uses of the colonial past in identity formation and nation-building. The intergenerational transmission of trauma is discussed as a key process linking past and present, affecting how subsequent generations understand themselves and their nation. Throughout, the analysis uses Libya as an illustrative case, from the brutal Italian colonization and its repression in cultural memory to the ways Libyan society has remembered, forgotten, or politicized that trauma showing broader patterns without confining the discussion to a single country. The study finds that collective remembrance of colonial trauma can serve as a source of resilience and identity, yet is often contested by forces of denial or selective forgetting. Addressing and acknowledging historical trauma emerges as crucial for post-colonial societies in healing, forging inclusive identities, and preventing the manipulation of history for political ends.