During the course, the students will employ a strategic empathy approach to media, literary, video materials that illustrate or attempt to explain positive attitudes to Russian War and support of the idea of Russia’s special way, special role in world history, and its messianic destiny, inside Russia. An attempt will be made to compare and juxtapose analyses produced by Russian intellectuals, who remain in the country, and those, who were forced to emigrate. The students will also attempt to discern historical and cultural roots in building the emerging political mythology and reflect on predominant western interpretations of those.