The Logic of Inquiry of "Managing 'Spoiled' National Identity"

Abstract

The following essay addresses the logic of inquiry and research design of sociologist Lauren A. Rivera’s 2008 research article, Managing “Spoiled” National Identity: War, Tourism, and Memory in Croatia. Rivera’s study suggests a new theoretical model for understanding state-level impression-management strategies with focus on how the Croatian government covered up their war-torn past to safeguard their future. The theoretical significance of this research project for Rivera is to learn more about the process of cultural and historical representation and how states come to manage and mediate their international standing following reputation-damaging historical events.