Authors

Liliya Dashevski¹;  ¹ Yale University, United States

Discussion

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, toy soldiers clad in Z-emblazoned uniforms, Z-branded multiple rocket launchers, and chocolate bullets labeled “Right on Target” began appearing in Russian stores, signaling a clear message: Russian toys were ready for battle. While these examples may seem extreme, they reflect a longstanding tradition tracing back to early nineteenth-century Russia. During that period, childhood began to be perceived as a distinct stage of human life requiring unique care and attention. This new understanding spurred the development of a children’s market, offering products like books, games, and toys. Notably, many of these items conveyed imperialistic messages, sometimes disguised as objects promoting national consciousness: primers featured images of the empire’s diverse ethnic groups, military board games included maps of imperial territories, and dolls dressed in “national” costumes. These items became common in children’s nurseries of the elite, embodying imperial ideals.

This paper examines toys and games produced in Imperial Russia that helped foster an imperialist mindset among young nineteenth-century Russians. Analyzing these objects reveals how their designers aimed to introduce Russian children to their Empire and their future roles as privileged subjects. The paper also closely examines the material qualities and affordances of these objects, proposing alternative, sometimes subversive, interpretations that suggest how children might have used these objects in ways that subtly resisted their creators’ intentions.