In today's Russia we see two distinct types of conspiracy narratives—official and popular. Official narratives, being a component of the new Russian ideology and civil religion, promote a patriotic sentiment in order to solidify political hierarchy. Popular narratives lean towards a thorough disbelief in institutions claiming that elites worldwide, including Russia, participate in the global conspiracy. Consequently, popular conspiracy narratives often conflict with official rhetoric even if at times they seem well-aligned.
Conspiracy Narratives in Russia: A Search for Identity, Religious Worldviews, and Russian Politics
Publication:
2022. Religion Compass, 16(8)
Soviet Esotericism: A Quest for Personal Autonomy in a Totalitarian Society
An essay about the role of esotericism in Soviet society. I argue that a quest for personal autonomy is inevitably supported by the construction of a related myth, a myth that establishes an alternative order of being, and that esotericism served as such a myth for Soviet intelligentsia.
Cosmic Feminine in “Synthetic Esoteric Philosophy” of Vladimir Shmakov
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