Talking Politics: Vladimir Putin’s Narrative on Contemporary History (2019-2022)

Abstract

This paper looks at Vladimir Putin’s public statements and articles devoted specially to historical issues which were published in 2019 through 2021 (with reference to the first such article published in 2009). The Russian President’s statements and extended texts on history are scrutinized in this paper as political messages having a certain target audience and political goals. The analysis has revealed a rapid evolution of Putin’s approach to relations with the West in 2019-2021, from attempts to reanimate the dialogue to a sharp confrontation. It has also proved the hypothesis that Putin’s views on history serve not so much as the basis for his political decisions as instruments of their legitimization for society and opponents.