Władze Federacji Rosyjskiej wobec relacji język ↔ tożsamość narodowa (interpretacja narratologiczna)

Abstract

The chapter indicates that Russian culture contains a huge variety of messages promoting the Russian language as one of its most significant sources and manifestations. The authorities of the Russian Federation systematically use this fact to create their own language policy. It expresses an ambition to control, model and censor modern Russian national identity. Consequently, the Russian Federation, including its president in particular, develops and promotes a neo-imperialist narrative on language policy. Russia seeks to impose it as a justification for its militarism, power politics, invasion in Ukraine, and interference in the internal affairs of neighboring states. In light of the official Russian statements on language policy, the belief in the greatness and exceptionality of the Russian language is supposed to be a pillar of the identity of the modern Russian (both a citizen of the Russian Federation and a mythical representative of the so-called ‘russkiy mir’). This means that the Russian language is used as a tool of political mobilization, separating Russians from other nations. This increases negative attitudes toward the Russian language, more and more frequently associated with a medium of the Russian cultural imperialism.