IDEOLOGICAL DISCOURSE IN SOVIET ANTHEMS: FROM LENIN TO GORBACHEV

Authors : Erdoğan Akman, Niyazi Ayhan

Pages : 923-949

Doi:10.51576/ymd.1669179

View : 54 | Download : 54

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study explores how Soviet national anthems functioned as ideological and rhetorical tools that reflected and shaped political authority across different leadership eras, from Lenin to Gorbachev. Drawing on Teun A. van Dijk\\\'s model of ideological discourse, particularly the construction of \\\"us\\\" versus \\\"them\\\" and the discursive polarisation of power, the research examines how anthem texts mirrored the political and social structures of their respective periods. Simultaneously, the analysis incorporates Aristotle\\\'s rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos to reveal how these anthems aimed to legitimise authority, foster collective identity, and mobilise emotional engagement. For instance, the \\\"International Anthem\\\" of the Lenin era emphasised revolutionary unity and class struggle. At the same time, Stalin-era anthems glorified centralised leadership and heroic sacrifice, portraying loyalty to the state as loyalty to its leader. As leadership shifted, so did the thematic and rhetorical content of the anthems, reflecting the ideological moods of the Khrushchev and Brezhnev periods, with increasing emphasis on unity and peace. Ultimately, the findings demonstrate that Soviet anthems were not mere ceremonial compositions but powerful discursive instruments designed to reinforce hegemonic narratives, sustain ideological dominance, and shape Soviet identity across changing political landscapes.
Keywords : ideolojik söylem, kimlik inşası, Sovyet ulusal marşları, ideolojik söylem, retorik analizi, kimlik inşası, sosyalist propaganda

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