Russian National Identity and History Today. A Reconstruction of the Concepts 'Russia', 'Great Russian Empire' and 'Russian People' in Children's Books on History
Abstract
The study describes the concepts of Russian national identity and Russian history that are presented in Russian children's books on history. The analysis of the children's books allowed to reconstruct semantic profiles of ʻRussiaʼ, ʻRussian Empireʼ, ʻSovjet Unionʼ, ʻthe Great Patriotic Warʼ and ʻRussian peopleʼ.
These concepts include key aspects of Russian national identity and history. A comparison with Soviet and post-Soviet textbooks showed that current concepts are directly related to those of the Soviet and post-Soviet period.
Russian history is told as linear and harmonious, almost inevitable in its course. It ranges from the Kiever Rus to the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union to today's Russia.
We have found a beautiful world with Russia, the Russian nation and the Tsar in its center. The children's books narrate in simple and clear form the myth of the distinctiveness of the Russian nation and its historical path.