Russian Nationalism in Education, the Media, and Religion

Abstract

Langdon and Tismaneanu examine how the Kremlin’s propagandizing efforts have successfully embedded themselves within Russian society, making nationalism and Putinist ideology an inescapable daily influence in the lives of all Russian citizens. This chapter explores how decades of one-sided narratives enforced by ideological state apparatuses such as the education system, the media, and the Russian Orthodox Church have squelched divergent thought among the Russian population. As a result, these institutions themselves perpetuate the Kremlin’s indoctrinating mission, reproducing nationalist tropes that serve Vladimir Putin’s state and foreclose avenues of friendly encounter with much of the world. This chapter sets the stage for understanding why the Russian citizenry continuously provides Putin with a mandate for power.