Narrative Propagation in Russia: A Study in Continuity - Censorship Employed by Tsars, Stalin, and Putin, 2014 Sochi Olympics, Pussy Riot, Putin Cult of Personality, Great Russia, Russian Nationalism

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Despite uncertainty and difficulties in the modern Russian Federation, the Putin regime enjoys massive popularity among its people, with approval ratings unrivaled in the past twenty-five years. This is a result of a carefully constructed narrative, pieced together using the strongest elements of Soviet and Tsarist propaganda, and enforced with censorship techniques borrowed from Stalin. This thesis establishes the continuity in both the propagated narrative and the censorship techniques employed by the Tsars, Stalin, and Putin. It also demonstrates an evolution of Putin's narrative, showing new innovations that have permitted the leader to maintain a strong level of support from the Russian populace, while silencing dissent.

CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION * A. MAJOR RESEARCH QUESTION * B. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH QUESTION * C. LITERATURE REVIEW * 1. Propaganda and Censorship * 2. Russian Nationalism * D. POTENTIAL EXPLANATIONS AND HYPOTHESES * E. RESEARCH DESIGN * F. THESIS OVERVIEW * CHAPTER II - THE TSARIST RUSSIAN NARRATIVE * A. THE TSARIST NARRATIVE * 1. 988-1917: Orthodoxy under the Tsars * 2. Great Russia * 3. Russianness * 4. Cult of Personality * 5. Censorship * B. CASE STUDY: THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR, 1904-1905 * 1. Pre-war Narrative: Self-Deception * 2. Defeat * 3. Political Fallout, National Humiliation * C. CONCLUSION * CHAPTER III - THE STALINIST RUSSIAN NARRATIVE * A. THE STALINIST REVERSAL * 1. Orthodoxy under the Soviet Union * 2. The Great Soviet Union * 3. Russian Nationalism: "Rise Up In Arms, O Russian Folk!" * 4. Cult of Personality * 5. Censorship * B. CASE STUDY: COLLECTIVIZATION UNDER STALIN * 1. The Kulak and the Priest: Liquidating Class Enemies * 2. "Dizzy With Success" * 3. Internal Censorship * 4. External Counter-Propaganda * C. CONCLUSION * CHAPTER IV - THE PUTINIST RUSSIAN NARRATIVE * A. THE PUTINIST NARRATIVE * 1. The Influence of Russian Orthodoxy * 2. Great Russia * 3. Russianness * 4. Cult of Personality * 5. Censorship * B. CASE STUDY: PUSSY RIOT * 1. An Alternate Narrative: Holy Fools * 2. Censorship * 3. Conclusion * C. CASE STUDY: WINTER OLYMPICS IN SOCHI, 2014 * 1. Russian Narrative * 2. Controversies * 3. Conclusion * D. CONCLUSION * CHAPTER V - SCORECARD AND CONCLUSION * A. SCORECARD: NARRATIVE CONTINUITIES * B. CONCLUSION: BUSINESS AS USUAL, FOR NOW * APPENDIX * VIRGIN MARY, PUT PUTIN AWAY (PUNK PRAYER)