Russian Narratives: The History of Propaganda – A Century of the Same Stories

 A special miniseries from the podcast 4 Minutes reveals how the Russian Federation uses words as weapons. We focus on narratives – stories that reshape reality, divide society, and undermine trust in democratic institutions. Step by step, we explore how these narratives arise, why they work, and how to resist them. Each episode is about four minutes long and focuses on a specific story, claim, or method of manipulation. This series is for anyone seeking to understand not just propaganda, but how modern wars are fought – without bullets, using words. 

Transcript

We continue our series on Russian narratives, where we aim to show how information is used as a tool of power. Today, we’ll take a step back into history, because in order to understand the current form of Russian propaganda, we need to go back more than a hundred years. Russia’s information strategy did not suddenly emerge in recent decades. It has been developing over a long period of time, with remarkable continuity and a core objective that has remained essentially unchanged. The language, style and media may evolve, but the central themes and messages return with almost ritualistic regularity.

At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Russian Empire was heavily shaped by censorship, which was intended to maintain the stability of the tsarist regime and suppress any ideas that could threaten the authority of the throne or disrupt the image of a unified empire. Printed media was strictly monitored, and spreading disloyal views was considered a threat to public order. Even then, we can see the emergence of key elements that remain the backbone of Russian propaganda today – the emphasis on a strong leader, the image of an external enemy, and the need for national unity as a means of survival.

After the revolution of 1917, a new ideology took power, but the methods of influence stayed largely the same. Soviet propaganda was complex and sophisticated. It used not only print media, but also posters, film, radio and later television. At the heart of the system stood the myth of the heroic worker, the ideal Soviet citizen, and the infallible leadership of the Communist Party. The outside world was often portrayed as corrupt, hostile and exploitative, while the Soviet Union was presented as a beacon of progress, equality and justice. Of course, the reality was quite different, which is why it had to be concealed, altered and replaced with an alternative version of the world.

Propaganda in the Soviet Union was not only a domestic tool but also an important part of foreign policy. Through various cultural exchanges, media outlets and later cooperation with allied regimes, the USSR promoted its image as the protector of oppressed nations, a fighter against colonialism and a guarantor of peace. Even though this rhetoric often clashed with reality, it had a significant impact on how the world perceived the Soviet Union, including in many European countries.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, it briefly seemed that the era of state-controlled propaganda had come to an end. The media opened up, a plurality of opinions emerged, and Russia appeared, at least on the surface, to be moving toward democracy. But this phase didn’t last long. With the rise of Vladimir Putin, a new system began to take shape. It uses modern technologies and the language of the digital age, but it rests on old, proven principles – simplification of reality, the cultivation of a personality cult, the portrayal of a nation under threat, and the constant presence of an external enemy.

Compared to its Soviet predecessor, Putin’s propaganda is more flexible, often more sophisticated, and above all, able to respond quickly to current events. While Soviet messaging relied on printed word and official speeches, today’s information is spread through professionally produced videos, memes, fake social media profiles, and news platforms that present themselves as independent. Despite the technological shift, the essence remains the same – to shape public thinking, justify political decisions, and prevent society from asking too many questions.

From today’s perspective, it is both fascinating and disturbing how little the content of propaganda has changed over the last hundred years. It always relies on a sense of threat, appeals to national pride, a belief in moral exceptionalism, and the urgent need for unity in the face of divisive external forces. That is why it is important that we pay attention to these stories, learn to recognize them, and never underestimate their power. Because when history repeats itself, it doesn’t always come as a tragedy – sometimes, it returns as a well-edited video with a shareable headline.

Thank you for listening to 4 Minutes. If you find these topics interesting, be sure to follow us on social media – we’re on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, where we share bonus content, short clips, and space for your questions and feedback. In the next episode, we’ll take a closer look at the narrative of Russia as the last defender of traditional values. Thank you for listening.