Deconstruction of the Myth of “Russian Greatness” as a Path to Decolonization of Cultural Space

On May 7 at 1:00 PM, a guest lecture by Professor Alexei Sukhomlinov was held at the Faculty of Social and Humanities, dedicated to the topic of deconstruction as a method of decolonization of cultural narratives. The event brought together teachers, students, and researchers interested in modern humanitarian approaches to the analysis of culture, identity, and imperial discourses.

In his presentation “Deconstruction as a Method of Decolonization of Cultural Narratives: The Case of the Concept of Russian “Greatness”,” the speaker turned to the philosophical concept of Jacques Derrida and showed how the method of deconstruction can be used to critically rethink imperial myths and cultural stereotypes. The professor emphasized that deconstruction allows us to reveal hidden meanings, question established axioms, and open new interpretive perspectives.

 Particular attention was paid to the analysis of the concept of Russian “greatness” and its functioning in the cultural and political space. The lecture examined examples of literary and cultural narratives that shaped the idea of ​​the “special mission” of Russian culture. One of the central ones was the analysis of the concept of “Tolstoevsky”— an ironic term that combines features of the worldviews of Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky as symbols of the controversial Russian cultural messianism.

The lecture sparked a lively discussion among the participants. The discussion concerned the role of the humanities in the processes of decolonization, rethinking of cultural heritage, and the formation of critical thinking in the modern academic environment.

Pugach Alina, higher education student
specialty 061 Journalism