Russia’s Ministry of Education has confirmed that Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, has personally acted as the editor-in-chief for a new line of Social Studies textbooks for grades 9–11. His edits have been incorporated not only into the books but also into the new federal educational standards and curricula.
The Ideological “Revision” of the Curriculum:
- Direct Control: Medvedev is not merely a consultant; he is a functional editor-in-chief shaping the “work programs” of national education.
- Personality Cult: In the textbooks prepared under his and Vladimir Medinsky’s guidance, Vladimir Putin’s name appears 27 times—five times more often than in previous standard textbooks and significantly more than key historical figures like Peter the Great.
- Terminological Warfare: The concept of “totalitarianism” is officially removed from a scientific context and labeled an “instrument of the West’s information war against the USSR.”
- Archaization and Militarization: The curriculum now includes quotes from the 16th-century “Domostroy” (a set of strict household rules) alongside direct advertisements for military contract service.
Analytical Summary (Category: Education and Ideology):
The appointment of Dmitry Medvedev as the editor-in-chief of Social Studies textbooks marks the final demolition of independent humanities education in Russia.
From Liberalism to Radical Protectionism: The irony is profound: the man who once epitomized the “thaw” and modernization in the 2000s is now personally erasing the foundations of civil rights and freedoms from textbooks. In 2026, Social Studies has ceased to be a subject about how society functions and has become a manual on how society must serve the state.
The Textbook as a Battlefield: By excluding terms like “totalitarianism” and making presidential citations mandatory, the guide is transformed into a tool for doctrinal indoctrination. Students are presented with a simplified world-view where any democratic institution is portrayed as a hostile “Western narrative.”
Unification of Consciousness: Medvedev in the role of editor ensures that no room remains for alternative interpretations of power and law. The blending of patriarchal “Domostroy” values with military recruitment ads creates a rigid ideological construct: traditional obedience paired with readiness for war. This is the preparation of a loyal, uncritical generation for whom the state’s will supersedes any legal norm.