The new history school textbooks in the Russian Federation: 1992–2004

This article examines the ideologically‐articulated shifts, and the images of transformation, and nation‐building process presented in the new generation of school history textbooks in Russia. The article analyses the new content of post‐Soviet history textbooks used in Russian secondary schools that represent various transformations from communism to a western‐style democracy. It discusses the resultant issues of searching for a new national identity and citizenship during the present transitional period. It critiques the new versions of Russia's post‐Soviet history taught in schools, and evaluates their officially defined status as instruments in the Russian process of ideological transformation and nation‐building, currently closely monitored by the State. In other countries, including Australia, these processes are still present but in less formal and more ad hoc ways.