A Finn, Swede, Norman or a Slav?
The origin of Russian founder Rurik in Finnish and Russian online discussions of the twenty-first century
Abstract
The nineteenth-century nationalistic reading of history persists in popular discussions of history and in reflections about nations’ origins and political influence. Our article explores the meanings given to the origins of the early medieval semi-legendary ruler Rurik in twenty-first-century Finnish and Russian online discussions. We examine the sources from which the information is drawn, and the differences and similarities between the discussions. An important part of the discussions is the interpretations of Rurik’s origins: whether he was a Slav, a Norman, a Finn, or a Swede. We also show how the online circulation of information and the DNA testing made available to the public have brought new layers of meaning to the debate, which, however, often culminates in the age-old contemplation of one’s own and one’s ‘nation’s’ identity. The novelty of the research is that we examine the cross-linguistic and cultural online discussions related to a medieval character, and how online users capitalise on the character’s perceived ethnic background to build on their own identity, often linked to nationality. The article’s research material is based on materials extracted between 2019 and 2020 from Finnish and Russian websites, forum discussions and blog posts, as well as indi-vidually selected materials. We have used a combination of critical content analysis and computer-aided methods as research methods.
