Pride and shame in collective memory of Russian and American youths

Abstract

This article examines collective attitudes of American and Russian students toward national historical events that elicit pride or shame. The authors use the results of a quantitative questionnaire and analysis of in-depth interviews among students of leading American and Russian universities to identify the temporal localization, the content structure, and the prevalence of either hard or soft power in students’ attitudes of pride or shame. The authors argue that perceptions of the past have been a core component of national identity and may have an impact on citizens’ political behavior in the present. The authors also stress that major differences in young people’s understanding of the past may influence future US–Russia relations.

Keywords:

• collective memory
• Russian students
• American students
• shame and pride

Notes

1 For the last two years, Russian citizens have become more positive in their attitudes toward the USA. The share of those who view Americans favorably rose from 18% to 25%, while the share of those feeling negatively decreased from 74% to 66% (Levada, 28 August 2016).

2 The 2016 US Presidential Election has had a short-term effect on how Russian citizens perceive the USA, and, more specifically, how they perceive US President Donald Trump. The policies President Trump has implemented since being sworn in as President, as well as the continuation of economic sanctions against Russia, have led to renewed skepticism toward the USA among Russians, as evidenced by opinion polls. According to the polling agency WCIOM, in April 2017 82% of Russian respondents viewed relations between the USA and Russia as tense, cold, or hostile (WCIOM, 17 April 2017).

3 Four hundred ninety-six from Moscow State University, 363 from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, and 540 from NRU HSE; see “Kachestvo platnogo priema v gosudarstvennye vuzy RF po profiliu – 2015,” Russian Education Ministry, available at: http://vid1.rian.ru/ig/ratings/Platniy_priem_2015.htm.

4 In particular, MGIMO (which operates under the auspices of the Russian Foreign Ministry) has traditionally educated future Russian politicians. These students have more opportunities than “average” Russian citizens to go abroad as part of their studies. They also have various online resources at their disposal. They generally speak more than two foreign languages; their views, as a consequence, are more susceptible to internationalization. They are taught by highly qualified staff, including current politicians and active public figures, who may facilitate the reproduction of political values and assist the students’ advance into the ruling class (Kasamara and Sorokina 2015).

5 The Unified State Exam (Edinii gosudarstvennii ekzamen) in Russia is in fact a series of exams every student must pass after graduation in order to enter a university or a professional college. Since 2009, the USE is the only form of graduation examination in schools and the main form of preliminary examination in universities.

6 https://www.forbes.com/sites/schifrin/2014/08/04/top-100-sat-scores-ranking-which-colleges-have-the-brightest-kids/#313ff65d5bad.

7 The annexation of Crimea, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the election of Putin. All the rest of the events, including achievements in science and culture, refer to earlier periods in Russian history.

8 Including the annexation of Crimea and Putin's third term as president, though those events were categorized as “shameful” by a much lower number of the respondents.

9 Equal voting rights, scientific advances, technology, and medicine (including contemporary advances), the struggle against discrimination against LGBTQ, the election of Barack Obama, social services, and Obamacare, democratic ideals and freedom, equality and equal rights, the reaction to crises and national disasters (including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina), help to other countries, environmental policy, American higher education.

10 Wars/military interventions, discrimination in contemporary America, the US prison system, capitalism and inequality, the War on Terror and Islamophobia after 9/11, ecological issues, surveillance of US citizens, corruption in contemporary America, the manhunt for Edward Snowden, all the events of America's contemporary history, support of authoritarian leaders, arms proliferation.