Routledge Democracy and Myth in Russia and Eastern Europe

Explore the complex connection between political narratives and state building in this academic study from the BASEES/Routledge Series on Russian and East European Studies. This book examines how Eastern European countries, often lacking formal democratic institutions, utilized mythical narratives to shape their political landscapes. Rather than viewing democracy solely as a set of institutional arrangements, this work presents it as a civilizational project. By analyzing different national traditions alongside pre-communist and communist narratives, the text explains how myths act as politically fabricated programs of truth. These narratives are essential for understanding how the political imagination is formed and sustained, even in the absence of traditional democratic actors. This volume provides deep insight into the cultural and literary foundations that influence political thought in the region. It is an essential resource for students, historians, and researchers interested in the historical development of political identity and the role of myth in modern Eastern European governance.