313 The “Russian idea” on The small scReen: sTaging naTional idenTiTy on Russia’s TV Marlene laruelle The GeorGe WashinGTon universiTy Abstract: Television is a central driver of Russia’s national identity debates. The topic of the “Russian idea” (Russkaia ideia) is successfully staged through the Rossiia-K (formerly Kul’tura) network, which demonstrates the political authorities’ conscious strategy to feed the intelligentsia and to respond to its requests for a cultural channel sensitive to national identity issues. T elevision remains the most widely disseminated media in Russia today, and a majority of the population believes that it provides reliable information. Even if the internet is starting to challenge this supremacy, television continues to shape public opinion, which sees in it not only a means of information, but also a form of entertainment accessible to all segments of the population. Television thus contributes both to reproduc- ing and shaping cultural and political consensus in Russian society. Topics that create consensus among society are scarce, but national identity is assuredly one of them. While there is no unanimity on the content making up Russia’s national identity, the notion that it is an important topic to which the authorities should pay a lot of attention is largely accepted. It frames an understanding of domestic evolutions and international affairs for the majority of citizens, and disseminates a culture that is based on the Soviet legacy—the lowest common denominator, but the most broadly shared. This article hypothesizes that television is a central driver of Russia’s national identity debates. 1 The role of cinema and television in the Kremlin-backed revival of the patriotic mood in Russia has been the topic of many studies. They 1 I am grateful for the anonymous reviewers’ comments. Marlene Laruelle is Research Professor at The George Washington University, 1957 E St. NW, Suite 412, Washington, DC 20052, USA. Email: laruelle@gwu.edu.