Turbulent Times: Propagandistic Storytelling and Memory (Re-)Production in the Media and Beyond

In the last decades ‘borders’ were seen porose and the role of the nation state was questioned itself within the humanities. Bauman’s idea of ‘liquid modernity’ or Pries’ term of ‘transnationalization’ are conceptualisations directed towards conditions in which the nation state plays less a role in everyday practices of people, companies or politics. These perspectives are heavily challenged by recent developments in the EU and its Eastern European neighbourhoods. The so-called ‘Ukraine conflict’ is one important allegory within a set of different political conflicts in countries like Russia, Ukraine, Poland or Germany. It is no exaggeration to argue that we are living in turbulent times, which are challenging cooperation and peace.

The paper is based on ethnographic research in Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Poland and on media narratives in the respective countries. It gets evident that there are several propagandas to be found. Be it the ‘evil other’, the ‘fascist threat’ or the ‘capitalist exploitation’, all of these propagandistic media narratives are based on old or try to produce new memories – often with the goal to counteract insecurity among people. The focus is on the everyday propagandistic storytelling within the before mentioned countries. I will argue that in order to understand the contemporary conditions between the EU and its Eastern European neighbourhoods we have to focus on the contesting everyday life propagandistic storytelling not to be too eclectic – which often happens as only the realm of political or economic actors is focused.