Anna Kuteleva1; Pradyumna Jairam1; 1 University of Wolverhampton, UK
Discussion
This study examines the discursive construction of Russian national identity in the "Foundations of Russian Statehood" course, offered by Moscow State University through the state-funded Open Education platform. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis, we investigate how this massive open online course (MOOC) articulates a Putinist vision of Russian identity that challenges Western narratives and advocates for a "post-Western" global order. Our analysis focuses on the course's depiction of Russia, Russians, and Vladimir Putin's role in shaping national identity. We explore the ideological frameworks, manipulation of collective memory, and gendered discursive strategies used in the course materials. This research reveals how MOOCs can serve as vehicles for disseminating and reinforcing state-sanctioned nationalism, ultimately supporting Russia's de-westernization agenda. By examining the intersection of education technology, state ideology, and national identity formation, this paper contributes to our understanding of how online education can be leveraged to promote specific geopolitical narratives and shape public discourse.
