Harnessing History: Narratives, Identity and Perceptions of R ussia's Post‐ S oviet role

R ussian political elites have long been aware of the power of myths to forge national unity. However, the past six or seven years have seen core myths increasingly situated within a highly selective narrative of R ussian history. This narrative is accepted as contextual information for policy discussion, and so sets cognitive parameters for evaluations of R ussia's history, identity and role. This standard narrative of R ussian history prioritises the state, supports gradualism and continuity, and dramatically reduces the potential for re‐conceptualising R ussia's role in contemporary international relations.