Chapter 10: Narrative Tools, Truth, and Fast Thinking in National Memory: A Mnemonic Standoff Between Russia and the West Over Ukraine

In 2014, the U.S. and Europe found themselves in a surprisingly tense face-off with Russia over events in Ukraine. As these events unfolded, it became clear that what was involved went beyond the kind of realpolitik dispute over resources or ideology that had long vexed the relationship between Russia and the West. Instead, it seemed to involve something deeper and more visceral, something that led many observers to acknowledge they were at a loss to come up with an explanation for what they saw as aggressive and dangerous moves by Russia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly told U.S. President Barack Obama, for example, that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not “in touch with reality”—a sobering observation, given that she was the Western leader regarded as having the best understanding of the Russian perspective.