How to Normalize the Occupation: Russian Authoritarianism and Maps

Abstract

The Russian invasion of Ukraine extends beyond physical conflict into the realms of history, narratives, and worldviews. While historians have analyzed Russia's manipulation of historical narratives to justify its actions in Ukraine and Georgia, the spatial component of Putin's ideology is less explored. Russia's spatial ambitions, deeply rooted in imperial and soviet traditions, link national identity with geographical knowledge, emphasizing maps. This paper examines how maps can support war narratives without depicting conflict directly - more specifically, how Russian authoritarianism uses cartography to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine, shaping public perception and supporting expansionist agendas. Through a critical analysis of Russian state-endorsed maps, the study uncovers the power dynamics, historical distortions, and ideological underpinnings of spatial knowledge construction.