Academic CentrePROJECT “POLITICIZATION OF HISTORY: POST-FACTUAL APPROACHES VIS-A-VIS LATVIA – RUSSIA RELATIONS IN XX CENTURY, INSTRUMENTALIZATION, CHALLENGES FOR DEMOCRACY, LESSONS AND COUNTER-MEASURES”
Project No.: lzp-2018/1-0322
Implementation period: 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2021
Project costs: EUR 300 000
Principal investigator: Dr. hist. Ainārs Lerhis
Aim of the project is creating and disseminating new interdisciplinary knowledge on the politicization of history of XX century by Russia in context of topical geopolitical challenges and Latvian – Russian relations in both, the domestic and international, arena. Research team will detect which milestones of history are being politicized and instrumentalized for political purposes by contemporary Russia, in what narratives does this politicization result, and what kind of strategies are being employed for politicization. Results of the study will be presented in conferences and will result in scientific publications. While domestically politicization of history serves as an engine for consolidating society, legitimising the power-that-be and self assertion of society in Russia, spill-over effects are inevitable as Latvia is immediate neighbour of the former. Dissemination of arbitrary and scholarly invalid interpretations of history in view of geopolitical challenges plays a crucial role in deteriorating relations between ethno-linguistic groups in Latvia, as well as interstate relations and international security. The public awareness is to be raised on instrumentalization of history for the political purposes in order to avoid manipulations and thus challenges for resilience. Politicization of history violates the ideal of open and inclusive society via excluding certain discourses and reflecting distorted image of history.