The Institutionalization of Memory of Political Repressions in Contemporary Russian Society: A Comparative Analysis of the Activities of State and Civil Society Organizations

The article explores the process of institutionalizing memory of Stalinist political repressions in post-Soviet Russia, with a focus on the role of state and private organizations in shaping the historical narrative. A comparative analysis of the activities of state and public organizations in contemporary Russian society is presented. The study examines the theoretical concepts of collective memory by M. Halbwachs, J. Assmann, and A. Assmann, as well as the memory politics of P. Nora. Particular attention is given to the dynamic process of institutionalizing memory, which includes both the "working through" and "overcoming" of the past. In the context of Stalinist repressions, this is expressed through the creation of museums, memorials, and research organizations, as well as the formation of institutional support for the state's narrative on the repressions. The main focus is on the differences between official and alternative memory institutions, such as the Russian Historical Society and public organizations, including "Memorial." The key features of their activities are characterized, including the influence of state policy on scientific research and public initiatives. The research is based on an interdisciplinary approach that integrates historiographical methods, sociology of memory, and critical discourse analysis. On this basis, the typology of memory organizations and their role in shaping collective representations of the repressive past is explored. The analysis shows how the institutionalization of memory about the repressions has become an important tool in shaping civil identity in the context of Russia's political transformation. The mechanisms of commemoration, the role of social and political institutions in preserving historical memory, and their influence on public consciousness are identified. It is established that state organizations are oriented toward transmitting the official interpretation of historical events, while private structures aim for a critical rethinking of the repressive experience and its incorporation into public consciousness in order to prevent similar phenomena. The results of the study demonstrate the ambivalence of the process of institutionalizing memory in the context of competing narratives about the Soviet past and highlight the need for dialogue between different actors in memory politics to form a consensual representation of the traumatic historical experience.

memory politics, institutionalization of memory, political repressions, historical memory, commemorative practices, civil society, state historical policy, Memorial, Russian Historical Society, collective trauma