Russia Beyond War and Empire: Is a New Narrative Possible?

Can we imagine a national identity for Russia rooted not in military victories or imperial grandeur, but in episodes of civic solidarity, the fight for rights, and successful reforms?

This discussion invites us to look at Russian history differently — to highlight not only the periods of repression and violence, but also the key moments when society organized itself and achieved change: from the 17th-century Zemstvo militias to the Perestroika era.

We will explore how rethinking historical dates and narratives can lay the foundation for a democratic Russian identity — and what “gathering points” might be included in an alternative calendar for the future.

Speaker: Alexey Uvarov, PhD, Visiting Fellow at the Department of East European History at The University of Bonn. A historian specializing in symbolic politics, historical memory, and narratives of Russian statehood. His dissertation, “The Problem of State Continuity in Russian Symbolic Politics”, explores how Russian authorities use imperial and Soviet imagery to legitimize the current political model.

Previously studied political science at Moscow State University and worked in academic research. Gerda Henkel Foundation fellow, 2022–2025.

Moderator: Ivan Vasiliev, Board Member at Perm Memorial and PhD candidate at The University of Bonn’s Department of East European History.

Life Stream: https://youtube.com/live/StO5hscX4JQ

Event time: 22/04 6 PM CEST