The tercentenary of Perm as an element of identity politics

Abstract

The article analyses the anniversary of a regional capital as a tool of identity politics. From the point of view of an identity approach, an event of this kind can act as a catalyst for reflection, have a positive impact on the involvement of residents in solving city problems, and integrate the community. The anniversary is considered as a symbolic practice of purposefully constructing the identity discourse that ensures integration of the urban/regional community and solves the problems of positioning the territory. The key content aspects of the jubilee discourse have been identified: image, infrastructure, and identity. If the first two aspects are aimed at the utilitarian economic effect, reinforcing the popularity of the territory and the real changes in the urban landscape, the identity perspective captures the meanings associated with understanding oneself as a community. Using the example of the 300th anniversary of Perm, the rhetoric of key actors in identity politics has been analysed from the perspective of these aspects. The author concludes that in the case of Perm, the anniversary was considered mainly as a tool for solving image problems. The agenda of constructing identity occupied a subordinate place in relation to the promotion issue. The anniversary was linked to the possibility of understanding urban and regional identity. However, that trend did not translate into a broad public discussion among intellectuals.

Keywords

• identity
• identity politics
• anniversary
• city brand
• perm