The language of Russian political discourse and national myth

One of the specific historical and cultural characteristics of the Russian political discourse is its orientation to precedents. It is considered correct to follow the behaviouristic models shown by one of the “heroes” (Peter I, Lenin, Stalin, etc.), to reproduce standard texts, and to compare the present situations with past situations (The Time of Troubles, Weimar Republic, NEP “New Economic Policy” (1921-1928), etc.). One of the peculiarities of the present time in Russia is the deep conflict between different social groups orientated to different precedents. Each group has its own variant of the national myth using the same means of the language for actualisation of this myth. Therefore, it is very important to analyse changes in the national cognitive foundation. Precedential phenomena are the central components of this foundation