In Defense of the Fatherland: Russian WWII Narratives as Tools of the Kremlin

This lecture was presented on August 3, 2017 by Rachel Baumant at the Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: World War II, or the "Great Patriotic War," had physically and psychologically devastating effects on Soviet society and thus remains vital to Russian national identity. However, the particular symbols and narratives used to teach the history of the war and commemorate the victory have become emblematic of the power and desire of the state to shape collective memory and thus influence perceptions of current events in the post-Soviet sphere. About the speaker: Rachel Bauman is a student at The Institute of World Politics, where she is pursuing an MA in Statecraft and International Affairs. After graduating from Messiah College with a BA in English and minor in politics, she taught English at a summer camp in Kostroma Oblast, Russia and later was a Resident Junior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest. She recently returned from a summer program of intensive Russian language study in Vladimir, Russia, and her particular interests are Russian/Soviet history, U.S.-Russia relations, and Russian politics and culture.