SYMBOLIC ANNEXATION: COMMEMORATION AS A TOOL OF RUSSIAN POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN CRIMEA
Abstract
The article examines commemoration as a tool of Russian political influence in the occupied territories of Ukraine, using the case of Crimea. To analyze this phenomenon, an interdisciplinary approach is applied, combining structuralist constructivism, communicative theory, the synergetic paradigm, and a behavioral approach. It is established that Russia’s commemorative policy in Crimea after 2014 is systematically aimed at constructing a narrative of the peninsula’s “historical belonging” to Russia and simultaneously delegitimizing the Ukrainian presence and memory. The analysis of specific practices, such as the mass renaming of toponyms, the installation of monuments, the institutionalization of holidays, the transformation of educational programs and the symbolic space, demonstrates how commemoration is instrumentalized for the systemic integration of Crimea into the Russian political field. All these actions are aimed at creating a perception of the “naturalness” of the occupation and generating additional arguments for the international legitimization of the aggression. The article substantiates the thesis that commemoration functions as a specific type of political propaganda that operates simultaneously at the institutional, cultural, and behavioral levels. It ensures long-term changes in the collective memory and identity of the population, constructs the symbolic capital of the occupying authorities, forms a “community of memory” through ritualized communication, and has a cumulative nonlinear effect. This allows commemoration to be considered as one of the key components of hybrid control, combining coercive and non-coercive means of domination over the territory. The conclusions emphasize that understanding the logic and consequences of Russian commemorative practices is critically important for developing effective counter-strategies at the local, national, and international levels. Further research is needed on the impact of these practices on different population groups, particularly youth and national minorities, as well as an assessment of the effectiveness of alternative memory practices that Ukraine can use to preserve its own identity.
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