'For the Ancestors' Glory!': The Rebirth of Cossack Education

• In Event: Crossroads of Resistance: Exploring the Dynamics of Liberation and Authoritarianism through the Lens of Migration and Education

Abstract

Cossack claims to indigeneity of Eastern Ukraine are a neglected but important part of the ideological struggle between Russia and Ukraine, yet how does the Kremlin reproduce and expand this identity in the upcoming generation? This paper argues that the rebuilt Cossack structures throughout Russia and in the newly annexed lands play an important role in cultivating Cossack identity through educational policies and so anchoring Russian claims to ownership both in the region and in international fora. Methodologically, this research uses a mixed methods approach: quantitatively, we analyze a web-scraped database of over 60,000 articles from Russian Cossack voiska (hosts) to demonstrate the increased importance of education in Russian Cossack public representations, number of educational institutions, and the increased attention given to specific issues within the Cossack movement; qualitatively, we demonstrate the creation of a Cossack system of education at the pre-school, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels as well as new MA and doctoral degree programs as well as professional training.

Author

• Richard Alan Arnold, Muskingum U