From Soviet Symbols to Digital Realities: Exploring Russian Cultural Hegemony in 35 MM

Year 2025, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 9 - 20, 22.04.2025

Mehmet Arif Arık , Tuba Livberber , Ayşen Yalman

Abstract

With globalization, countries have begun to prioritize economic and soft power alongside military strength in their security strategies. Following the global shift in power after 1990, the Russian Federation, facing a historical turning point, required reorganization and a new approach to secure its role in the emerging international system. Digital games, a significant aspect of popular culture, play a role in ideological and political meaning-making, reflecting real-life dynamics. Games with narratives can construct ideological worlds, embedding and communicating myths and representations to players. In this context, analyzing the Russian-developed game 35 MM provides insight into Russia’s strategy of using soft power to extend its cultural influence while aintaining
regional interests. This study aims to uncover the cultural codes that reflect Russia’s effort to promote its global presence through digital games without abandoning regionalism. By interpreting 35
MM through a post-Soviet lens, the study explores the underlying symbols and boundaries of this new hegemonic and ideological strategy. The findings reveal that video games have the potential to be powerful tools for countries to disseminate cultural hegemony. Russia is actively leveraging this potential by collaborating with game developers to extend its cultural influence to younger generations.

Keywords

Post-Soviet Russia, Hegemony, Globalization, Soft Power

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