Putin’s History Politics Machine
The Russian Military Historical Society
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
History policy serves the Putin regime as an instrument to legitimize its imperialist great power politics and strengthen national unity. At its core lies a patriotic, heroic military history. The Russian Military Historical Society uses multimedia exhibitions, monumental memorials, battle reenactments, military-historical tourism and intensive work with children and young people to charge the public sphere with patriotic warfare. The glorification of historical wars and victories under the firm leadership of strong rulers, and especially the memory of the heroic defence of the Fatherland in the Second World War have made up an integral part of anti-Western propaganda during the invasion of Ukraine and tightening of Western sanctions.
(Osteuropa 12/2022, pp. 143–164)