Analysing change
01 August 2021
“Struggle in the West, Humility in the East” Aleksandr Nevskii in Russian History Policy
In his recently published article “Struggle in the West, Humility in the East” Aleksandr Nevskii in Russian History Policy Advisory Board Member Benjamin Schenk examines the highly contested figure of Aleksandr Nevskii in Russian history policy and current culture of remembrance.
"In 2021, Russia will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the birth of Aleksandr Nevskii, both saint and national hero. The state, the Orthodox Church, and the Military-Historical Society will honour him with monuments and exhibitions. In the cultural memory of the 1990s, the Novgorod prince was present in diverse forms, as a figure of local historic significance or someone who formed a regional identity. Today, a state-serving, patriotic reading dominates. In Russia’s current culture of remembrance, Alekandr Nevskii is regarded as a guarantor of “Russian statehood”, a defender of Russia’s “autonomy”."
