Russia to Rewrite Language and Literature Textbooks Amid Propaganda Concerns

Russian authorities are revamping school textbooks with a “patriotic” focus that critics say serves as a tool for state propaganda, according to a recent report by the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD).

Representatives from the Moscow Pedagogical University announced plans to create new “unified” textbooks for Russian language and literature classes that will feature a “patriotic, nationally oriented approach.” The announcement came during a meeting of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Russia’s upper house of parliament.

According to the CCD report, the textbook authors have openly declared their intention to “educate citizens interested in preserving the Russian language” and “strengthen spiritual and moral values” through the new educational materials.

The curriculum changes extend beyond simple language instruction. The revised textbooks will include new sections on “Literature of the Peoples of Russia” and a feature called “Literary Map of Russia,” both apparently designed to emphasize Russian cultural identity. Coverage of the “Great Patriotic War” – Russia’s term for its involvement in World War II – will also be expanded, reinforcing a narrative that has long been central to Russian national identity.

Perhaps most tellingly, even the section on international works will be reframed through a Russian lens. The standard “Foreign Literature” section will be renamed “Foreign Literature in Russian Translations,” shifting focus to Russia’s role as cultural interpreter rather than engaging with foreign works on their own terms.

This textbook initiative appears to be part of a broader trend of increasing state control over education in Russia. The Kremlin has been systematically expanding its influence on both education and leisure activities for Russian schoolchildren, creating what observers describe as a centralized model of ideological control.

This control extends through multiple channels, including state funding mechanisms, media assets, and educational platforms that are overseen by organizations with close ties to President Vladimir Putin’s administration.

Education has increasingly become a battleground for ideological influence in Russia since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The war has accelerated efforts to instill “patriotic” values in younger generations and to present a version of history and culture that aligns with state narratives.

Critics worry that these educational reforms represent a return to Soviet-era practices, when textbooks were explicitly designed to promote communist ideology and loyalty to the state. The emphasis on patriotism and nationally oriented education echoes similar movements in other authoritarian states where education is used as a tool for shaping political beliefs.

The move comes amid broader concerns about freedom of expression in Russia. Since the beginning of what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine, Russian authorities have cracked down on independent media and passed laws criminalizing what they deem “false information” about the Russian military.

In related developments, the Kremlin has also introduced a new system for monitoring children’s online activities, further extending state oversight into young people’s intellectual development and information access.

Educational experts outside Russia have expressed concern that these changes will limit critical thinking skills and exposure to diverse perspectives among Russian students. By controlling the educational narrative from an early age, the state can shape citizens’ worldviews in ways that support current government policies and discourage questioning of authority.

The textbook reforms highlight the strategic importance that the Russian government places on education as a tool for securing long-term political stability and ensuring future generations’ support for state ideology.