The Image and Memory of Vladimir Lenin: An Evolution from the Early Soviet Period to the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Russia is a country filled with remnants of its Soviet past; instead of Russia’s losing sight of the glory and brutality of its Soviet decades, Russia has chosen in many ways to honor the Soviet Union and keep its memory alive. One of the most interesting and constant aspects of Soviet history that has survived the collapse of the USSR is the image of Vladimir Lenin, the founding father of the Soviet Union. This thesis focuses on the evolution of Lenin’s image and memory from the dawn of the Soviet era to today’s Russia.This thesis explores themes that include the following: Lenin’s image in the early Soviet period and his veneration through his cult of followers; the fracturing of his legacy and reputation during the Gorbachev years and the collapse of the Soviet Union; and the restoration of Lenin’s image as Vladimir Putin emerged to power and strived to rehabilitate the legacy of the Soviet Union. Finally, this thesis further examines Lenin’s polarizing image in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, and where Lenin’s legacy stands today, at the close of 2024.