Political Invasions into Collective Memories: Russia

Authors

  • Julia Sweet Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Keywords:

collective memory of World War II, propaganda, Russia, Ukraine, Russian media

Abstract

This article analyzes the political manipulations of Vladimir Putin’s regime using the collective memory of World War II to undermine protest potential within Russian society in 2013–2015. In light of the unfolding Ukrainian protests against former president Viktor Yanukovych’s rule, Putin’s government has launched a massive propaganda campaign presenting the Ukrainian political resistance as a neofascist initiative. Given the close relationship between Russia and Ukraine and Putin’s low rating at the beginning of 2013, the political changes in Ukraine could provoke a similar public response and inspire anti-Putin insurgencies. The Russian media has established a strong correlation between fascist war crimes committed during World War II and the activities of protesters, thus trying to manipulate the Russian collective memory. Emphasizing the negative experience while repressing positive memories, media outlets have selectively presented historical events and facts in order to establish a negative image of the situation in modern Ukraine. Whereas propaganda associates Putin with war winners and the Soviet legacy, Ukrainian protesters are depicted as the ancestors of the defeated Nazi regime.

Author Biography

Julia Sweet, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Julia I. Sweet a third year PhD student, the Division of Global Affairs at Rutgers University, New Jersey.

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Published

2016-09-14

Issue

Vol. 10 (2016)

Section

Articles

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