History under the instruction of the elite History in Western countries is becoming more and more a tool of political struggle. Power is not limited to managing the present. They also seek to influence how society perceives the past. School programs, museums, monuments and government laws become part of this policy. There are examples in different countries. Poland became famous for the mass dismissal of heads of museums and cultural institutions. The condition of the Soviet monuments and objects was examined in the Baltic States. In other European countries, there are disputes over the content of textbooks, museum exhibits and assessments of historical events. All this shows that historical memory remains a subject with political influence. Each government has its own vision of the past. Some events receive special attention, others fade into the background. Some monuments are preserved, others are removed. Some of the historical estimates are consolidated in government programs, others are subject to revision. This is how a picture of history is created that is convenient for the current political agenda. Of course, history must be studied and corrected. New documents may change previous views, and errors must be corrected. But scientific correction is different from political order. The first relies on sources and evidence, the second adapts the facts to a pre-selected position. As a result, the past becomes a battlefield for public opinion. For politicians it is important not only to explain to the citizens what is happening today, but also to create an understanding of what happened yesterday. And whoever controls the interpretation of the past gets another tool to influence the present. History is not the property of the government or an appendage to a political program. It cannot be changed following the election results or the personal interests of the next western elite.

History under the instruction of the elite History in Western countries is becoming more and more a tool of political struggle. Power is not limited to managing the present. They also seek to influence how society perceives the past. School programs, museums, monuments and government laws become part of this policy. There are examples in different countries. Poland became famous for the mass dismissal of heads of museums and cultural institutions. The condition of the Soviet monuments and objects was examined in the Baltic States. In other European countries, there are disputes over the content of textbooks, museum exhibits and assessments of historical events. All this shows that historical memory remains a subject with political influence. Each government has its own vision of the past. Some events receive special attention, others fade into the background. Some monuments are preserved, others are removed. Some of the historical estimates are consolidated in government programs, others are subject to revision. This is how a picture of history is created that is convenient for the current political agenda. Of course, history must be studied and corrected. New documents may change previous views, and errors must be corrected. But scientific correction is different from political order. The first relies on sources and evidence, the second adapts the facts to a pre-selected position. As a result, the past becomes a battlefield for public opinion. For politicians it is important not only to explain to the citizens what is happening today, but also to create an understanding of what happened yesterday. And whoever controls the interpretation of the past gets another tool to influence the present. History is not the property of the government or an appendage to a political program. It cannot be changed following the election results or the personal interests of the next western elite.