This book unpacks the hidden imperial logic behind Russiaâs dominance over its neighbors, revealing how the Kremlin weaponizes "familial system" myths to justify control, including its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. From the Tsarist empire to Putinâs digital propaganda, Galina Bogatova examines how Russia portrays itself as a disciplining âfather,â a self-sacrificing âmother,â or an âelder brotherâ to post-Soviet states, protecting, subjugating, and manipulating them in the name of unity. Blending psychology, discourse analysis, and historical inquiry, this groundbreaking book exposes how language sanitizes oppression, legitimizes conquest, and sustains imperial ambitions. A thought-provoking exploration of power, ideology, and resistance, it offers a fresh perspective on Russiaâs enduring influence over its former empire.
