‘Wild or Free’? The Memory Politics of the Yel’tsin Era Spectacle in Russian Political Talk Shows, 2014–2018

Abstract

This article investigates the mnemonic discourses and memory politics that unfolded in Russian talk shows dedicated to the Yel’tsin era that were broadcast in 2014–2018. The focus on four themes (democracy, freedom, economic transformation and the elite) and how they are articulated by two competing groups of mnemonic actors (‘liberals’ and ‘statists’) shows that two opposite ways of remembering the 1990s are produced. The conclusion reached is that both the polarisation of narratives and the constant victory of the negative memory of the decade are key components of the spectacle, reinforcing pro-Kremlin legitimisation and contributing to anti-liberal rhetoric.