The Formation of Historical Memory as a Direction of State Symbolic Politics in Modern Russia

The article examines memory politics as one of the key directions of state symbolic politics that has a specific importance for national consolidation and values translation. The author analyzes the main theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of collective, cultural, and historical memory, and clarifies the relation between the concepts of “memory politics”, “historical politics”, and “symbolic politics” revealing their confluence and difference. Particular attention is paid to the constructivist potential of memory politics as a tool for identity formation as well as to the methodological foundations of its analysis in the public administration system. The author proposes an original model for the research of memory politics incorporating institutional, discursive, and instrumental levels that allows to holistically overtake the phenomenon. The heuristic potential of the model is demonstrated through a case study of the Russian Military Historical Society that affirms its applied significance.