Politicizing history in the Kremlin’s strategic conspiracy narratives
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Professor of political and sociosemiotics at University of Tartu
In the Russian Federation’s strategic communication, history is far more than a neutral record of past events—it is a potent political tool.
Vladimir Putin’s now-iconic 2005 declaration that the dissolution of the Soviet Union was the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century” is emblematic of how the Kremlin employs memory politics to craft cohesive identity narratives, justify aggressive foreign policy, and mobilise both domestic and international audiences. Historical events are framed within emotionally charged conspiracy theories, in which the West systematically falsifies history to undermine Russia. Key narratives such as the “victory myth” and the “collapse trauma” are ritualistically repeated and serve dual purposes: uniting citizens through collective grievance and elevating Russia’s global status through glorification of its past. This manipulation of history functions within the broader concept of strategic culture, wherein national insecurity and perceived victimhood shape not only identity but also defence policy and geopolitical ambitions.