Russian National Identity and History Today: Research on the Presentation of National Identity in Russian Children’s Books on History

Abstract

This study describes the concepts of Russian national identity and Russian history that are presented in current Russian children’s books on history. The analysis allowed for the formulation of the semantic profiles of “Russia”, “Russian Empire”, “Soviet Union”, “Great Patriotic War” and “Russian people”. These concepts include key aspects of Russian national identity and history. A comparison with Soviet and post-Soviet textbooks has demonstrated that current concepts are directly related to those of the Soviet and post-Soviet period. Russian history is told as linear and harmonious, practically inevitable in its course. It ranges from the Kievan Rus to the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union to today’s Russia. Russia, the Russian nation with the tsar at its center, embodies a beautiful world. The children’s books narrate in simple and clear form the myth of the distinctiveness of the Russian nation and its historical path.

Keywords

Russia / national identity / culture of remembrance / history policy and education

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