The Eternal Karamzin
Historical Ideology from the Textbook
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
History class plays an important role for the political consciousness of every society. In Russia, the first history book came into being in the 18th century. Soon the state-fixated construct of Russia’s history drafted by Nikolai Karamzin asserted itself. Herein lies the basis of ideas such as a special path, the fortress under siege, centralism, and the legitimation of authoritarian rule. From 1918 to 1934 and during Perestroika, other views of history dominated. Now a restoration can be observed. New history textbooks are once again spreading constructs of history in the tradition of Karamzin.
(Osteuropa 1/2009, pp. 83–96)