CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2018
| Author | Veselov, Fedor Denisovich |
|---|---|
| Title | The Politics of Memory in Russia: Historical Policy vs Alternative Memory Project |
| Summary | The thesis considers questions of politics of memory in contemporary Russia, the historical policy implemented by the state and possibilities for alternative memorial projects to emerge and change the current politics of memory and the political regime in general. The case study for this research is the Last Address alternative memorial project which installs small memorial plaques on buildings known as the last residential addresses of people who were repressed during the Soviet times for political reasons. One of the most important features of the project is that it communicates directly with residents in order to receive the consent to install the plaque on the wall which they owe. Both macro level of communication of the project with different state and non-state actors and micro level of communication with citizens are discussed. In order to answer the questions Jeffrey Olick’s process-relational approach to collective memory as the main analytical framework is chosen. Interviews with the project coordinators and volunteers are collected as well as the research of the opening ceremonies of plaques is done. Thesis states that the possibilities for the emergence and development of the project are hidden in the authoritarian character of Russian political system as well as in tactics of the project: creative use of law, financial structure, chosen periodization of memory. Changes which the project brings to the politics of memory in Russia are connected to the deep emotional involvement of citizens into the project by volunteer working with residents. This project opens several possibilities for democratic changes which are to be discussed in the concluding parts of the work. Key words: politics of memory, historical policy, alternative memory, political repressions, process-relational methodology. |
| Supervisor | Kowalski ép. Hodges Alexandra |
| Department | Sociology MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2018/veselov_fedor.pdf |
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