In Search of "Ancient Rus": The Conservative Turn and the Politics of Memory in Central Russia (the 2010s–Early 2022)

 How did the "conservative turn" of the 2010s reshape the historical landscapes of Russia's ancient cities? Why do certain episodes of the past become especially significant for regional actors engaged in the politics of memory? Can local elites present their regions as historically distinctive and politically meaningful, or does regional history remain merely an echo of the national narrative?
This book is the result of a study of twelve regional capitals conducted between 2020 and 2022. Its aim is to "map" the public uses of history and examine how the historical and symbolic spaces of provincial Russian cities—including memorial complexes, monuments, museums, and cultural institutions—are interpreted and transformed today.
The study demonstrates how appeals to the past serve a dual purpose: on the one hand, they articulate the value foundations of the Russian nation; on the other, they are employed to legitimize authoritarian models of governance.
The book was originally scheduled to be published in Russia in 2025. However, after a denunciation by the ultra-conservative Orthodox movement Sorok Sorokov ("Forty Forties"), the print run was halted before publication.

Konstantin Pakhaliuk. In Search of "Ancient Rus": The Conservative Turn and the Politics of Memory in Central Russia (the 2010s–Early 2022). — Chișinău: The Historical Expertise, 2026.
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