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ISSUE: 3/2025

  • Volume 29
  • Number 3
  • 2025

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Studia Europejskie –
Studies in European Affairs

ISSN: 1428-149X
e-ISSN: 2719-3780

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Development Of Scientific Journals

Publication co-financed by Ministry of Science and Higher Education pursuant to the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Science of 3 August 2021 (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 1514) on the “Development of Scientific Journals” programme.

Publikacja dofinansowana przez Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego na podstawie rozporządzenia Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z 3 sierpnia 2021 r. (Dz. U. z 2021 r. poz. 1514) w sprawie programu „Rozwój czasopism naukowych”.

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Publication co-financed by the University of Warsaw within the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” programme.

Czasopismo otrzymało dofinasowanie w ramach Programu „Inicjatywa Doskonałości – Uczelnia Badawcza”.

Russian Cultural Policy in the Midst of War: Strategies and Actors

Tatiana Romashko

Olga Zabalueva

Keywords:
 Cultural Front of Russia Cultural Policy Historical Parks Museum Politics Russia Warfare

Abstract

This paper investigates developments in Russian cultural policy following the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It analyses shifts in cultural legislation and official discourse on culture within the context of war. The study addresses two research questions: (1) What are the primary directions and strategies of cultural policy since 2022; and (2) How do various actors in the cultural sector exploit these trends to secure economic benefits and influence during this exceptional wartime period? To illustrate the effects and outcomes of these policy shifts, the paper explores two distinct cultural initiatives. The first, the Historical Parks Project, originates from the business management offices of the Skolkovo Innovation Centre and the educational efforts of both the State and the Russian Orthodox Church. The second, the Cultural Front of Russia, is a recently emerged grassroots public movement. The authors argue that these projects exemplify both top-down and bottom-up dynamics of empowerment within the wartime patriotic framework. Despite differing leadership structures, they share significant similarities in their methods and ideological alignment with Russia’s authoritarian regime. The research draws on an analysis of official discourses in the Russian Parliament and the Presidential Administration, alongside recent amendments to cultural legislation. To study the practical implementation of cultural policy, i.e., the operations of the selected projects, the authors analyse the Parliament’s and Presidential Administration’s official Telegram channels and media coverage of their activities.

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DOI: 10.33067/SE.3.2025.4

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Romashko, T. and Zabalueva, O. (2025) "Russian Cultural Policy in the Midst of War: Strategies and Actors". Studia Europejskie – Studies in European Affairs, 3/2025, pp. 57-77. DOI: 10.33067/SE.3.2025.4

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