Memory and Politics: Reshetnikov Presents on Panel
January 19, 2026
Anatoly Reshetnikov, WVPU Assistant Professor of International Relations, recently spoke about his research at the public panel “Unwanted Memory of Stalin’s Repressions.”
The event was co-organized by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on Consequences of War and the University of Graz in Austria.
The panel brought together leading historians, activists and political scientists for a meaningful conversation on both the history of Stalin’s crimes and the contested ways this past is interpreted and mobilized today.
In a period when discussions of historical responsibility and human rights are increasingly polarized, the gathering created a valuable space for open, informed dialogue.
Reshetnikov contributed insights from his research on the evolution of the portrayal of Stalinism in the official Kremlin’s rhetoric in the 21st century. He identified key continuities and ruptures in the politics of memory in contemporary Russia, focusing on how narratives of repression are shaped, silenced or repurposed in public discourse. He also presented his observations and ideas on the transformation of high-school history training in Russia paying specific attention to the newly introduced standardized history textbooks.