Political Myth as an Element of the Politics of Memory

Abstract

The paper examines the role and functions of the political myth in the process of the formation of historical memory and the implementation of the politics of memory. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the phenomenon of political messianism, as one of the most significant elements of national culture and national political mentality. The transformations of messianic political mythology in different periods of Russian history are considered. Since there are no prerequisites for the formation of a messianic political mythology in modern Russian myth-making practice, there is an active appeal to the Soviet period of history, in particular to the Great Patriotic War. The myths associated with the Great Patriotic War become the most important in the implementation of the politics of memory.