Moving history to the “Bad Bank”
The Revolution in Russia’s education policy and school text-books
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The October Revolution was the founding myth of the USSR, and determined the way in which Soviet citizens viewed history. With the collapse of the USSR, the history of the Revolution lost its binding force; since then, there has been much debate in Russia as to how it should be interpreted. The Putin government wants to harmonise history textbooks in order to promote national unity. But the complex legacy of the October Revolution prevents it from being exploited for the purposes of patriotic educational programmes. The centenary could provide an opportunity for renewed consideration of the Revolution and its consequences. However, those in power are attempting to ignore it to a large degree.
(Osteuropa 6-8/2017, pp. 343–354)