Takeover of the memory field: changing commemorative practises regarding Stalinist repressions in Russia

Abstract

Current paper primarily focuses on the analyses of Russian memory regime on the issue of Stalinist repressions. Over the recent years, Russian government established a monopoly of commemoration of the past events by oppressing existing independent memory agent in the field. Current empirically driven case study aims to define modern memory regime in Russia and main reasons behind the takeover happened. With the help of framing analysis, the comparison of narratives used by state and non-state memory agents is done in order to distinguish key differences in how same commemorative events are framed by different actors. According to the analysis, in authoritarian settings independent memory agent Memorial is considered as a threat, as it emphasizes the connection between Soviet repressions and the ongoing ones in modern Russia. New state-controlled actor Memory Fund was introduced to the field in order to promote legitimacy of the incumbent regime and establish the monopoly of commemoration.