Soviet mythologies in commemorative and ritual practices in contemporary Latvia

This PhD project examines the role of commemorative and ritual practices in the transmission of Soviet myths in Latvia while taking into account the broader post-Soviet context. The study addresses the following research questions: How do different perceptions of the Soviet past coexist within contemporary Latvian society? What are the main forms and characteristics of the Soviet myth in today’s Latvia, and how do they differ from the Soviet myth in Russia and other post-Soviet countries? A mixed-methods design was implemented, comprising a survey of 404 respondents to identify Latvian residents’ opinions about the Soviet past, their patriotic and nostalgic feelings, and their participation in commemorative and ritual practices related to Soviet repressions, occupation, and World War II events. The survey also investigated how individuals from different ethnolinguistic groups (Russian-speaking and Latvian-speaking respondents) interpret the meaning of Soviet myths and participate in contemporary commemorative practices related to the Soviet legacy. Additionally, the study included the quantitative analysis of 30 in-depth interviews with respondents to provide descriptive narratives of commemorative rituals and pay specific attention to interviewees’ experiences and beliefs, emotions, and personal memories of the Soviet past. Furthermore, the study compared secondary data analysis (survey data, media, and academic reports) with primary interviews with stakeholders (notably, the organisers of Victory Day celebrations and politicians) to analyse how the Soviet legacy and related commemorative practices are used for current political needs