Authors

Discussion

On September 1, 2023, a mandatory course titled “Fundamentals of Russian Statehood” was implemented for all first-year students at Russian universities, irrespective of their field of study, marking a new phase in the evolution of higher education under the current political regime in Russia. This study analyzes three official textbooks for the course, as recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science, using frame analysis methodology to investigate the rhetorical frames employed to interpret sociopolitical reality. The analysis focused on three primary aspects: the domestic political doctrine (including “traditional values”), the foreign policy worldview, and the methods used to influence students. The study concludes that (1) the textbooks promote a distorted image of liberal democracy, positioning Russia in opposition to the West; (2) the ideologized worldview is fundamentally based on historical revisionism; and (3) key elements of the strategy to persuade students include the desemantization and substitution of concepts, fostering a nihilistic perception of democracy and liberalism among students. Overall, the content of the textbooks extends beyond political propaganda, serving as a comprehensive ideological tool.