Theater as a propaganda tool: Russia launches a program for foreigners
In moscow, recruitment of foreign participants for an internship in theatrical arts has been announced. Students of theater and film schools and young actors from BRICS+ countries are invited to participate.
Officially, the project is presented as a cultural and educational initiative. However, in practice, such programs are part of russia’s state policy to promote its influence abroad through culture. This is indicated by the presence among the organizers of “rossotrudnichestvo” — a state agency engaged in promoting russian influence abroad, as well as the fact that the program’s funding comes, in particular, from the russian presidential grants fund.
For russia, theater is an important tool of so-called soft power. Through this sphere, kremlin actively tries to shape a positive image of russia abroad.
Participation in such programs allows russia to create networks of loyal contacts in the cultural environment of other countries. Thus, internships for foreign actors can become a propaganda tool aimed at expanding russian influence in the world.
