World War II and the Problem of Historical Memory Formation (Roundtable)

Aim. Analysis of current trends in the study and teaching of World War II history and the Great Patriotic War within the context of information and political confrontation and formation of collective memory on the occasion of the 80-year anniversary of Victory.

Methodology. Methods of discourse analysis, comparative analysis of educational practices, historical and genetic analysis of transformations of historical narratives in textbooks in Russia, Europe, and Ukraine.

Results. The main mechanisms of falsification and politicization of the history of the war are revealed: the substitution of concepts, the introduction of an Anglo-Saxon teaching model that ignores the role of the USSR, and the purposeful formation of an anti-Russian historical identity in Ukraine. The evolution of Russian textbooks from the critical revision of the 1990s to the patriotic paradigm based on the concept of «Russia-state-civilization» is shown.

Research implication. The results of the research can be used to develop a methodology to counteract the falsification of history, improve curricula and textbooks, as well as strengthen historical memory and national identity in the educational system and information policy.

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