Content note: discusses themes of war, violence and societal trauma 

This presentation by Dr Karolina Koziura (Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow, European University of Florence) examines how the legacies of violence inform political attitudes, identity formation, and the maintenance of political regimes. It delves into the role of public recognition—or denial—of such violence in shaping societal reckoning. Focusing on the Great Ukrainian Famine of 1932–1933, known as the Holodomor, the analysis traces its transformation into a powerful symbolic resource and one of the most debated topics in Eastern European history. By investigating the perspectives of diverse actors—including Soviet bureaucrats, international journalists, Ukrainian émigrés, Nazi ideologues, Cold War intellectuals, members of the Ukrainian diaspora, and survivors—this presentation illuminates the multifaceted responses to the famine. It underscores how catastrophic events can profoundly influence societal structures and state narratives for decades. Furthermore, the study highlights the enduring legacies of the denial of violence, which marginalized survivors' voices, obstructed awareness of the famine, and facilitated contradictory interpretations.