Authors

Arseny Kumankov¹;  ¹ Independent Institute of Philosophy, France

Discussion

The field of education, traditionally a platform for knowledge and critical thinking, has increasingly become a vehicle for ideological and militaristic disruption. This shift is particularly evident in Russia, where the invasion of Ukraine has accelerated the transformation of the education system. Schools and universities have become integrated into military narratives, with new projects emerging that blur the line between education and the warfront. Meetings with veterans of the “Special Military Operation,” initiatives to collect aid for the military, and other direct connections between educational institutions and the frontlines have become normalized. My hypothesis is that, while Russian officials attempt to present the war in Ukraine as a limited “special military operation,” largely disconnected from the daily lives of most Russians, the education system is being deeply militarized. This militarization represents a profound disruption of educational norms. However, this task of glorifying war and creating a cult of military power is not entirely new to Russian historical and social studies education. History textbooks, particularly in post-Soviet Russia, have long constructed war as a heroic and victorious endeavor. The narrative of Russia as the perennial victor and the Russian people as the triumphant force has dominated historical education. In this sense, the education system was primed for the disruptive ideological and propagandistic work that intensified after February 24, 2022. In my research, I intend to test this hypothesis by analyzing post-Soviet history textbooks included in the federal list. Through this analysis, I will explore how images of military victory have been constructed and how they serve to perpetuate the disruption of education into a tool of state militarization. This version highlights how the militarization of education disrupts its core purpose, aligning with the broader theme of disruption while examining the ideological implications within the context of Russian history.