Understanding the Immortal Regiment: Memory Dualism in a Social Movement

Abstract

The Immortal Regiment is the most popular phenomenon and yet the most understudied institution to have emerged in Russia in the last decade, having been described variously as state propaganda, a popular movement hijacked by the state, a cult of the dead, a religious procession and a manifestation of genuine patriotism. The article suggests seeing the Immortal Regiment as a memory-based social movement distinct from the NGOs and GONGOs that struggle to represent it, thus challenging dominant visions of the institution. The organisational structure of the Immortal Regiment reflects the inherent dualism of Russian war memory, combining and counterposing statist militarism and popular anti-war sentiments. This view provides a basis for understanding the most significant popular movement in contemporary Russia while revealing its political implications.