Biography

Julie Deschepper is an historian of Russia. Her scholarly interest is focused on the cultural heritage of the Soviet past, and her research includes Soviet monumental productions, material culture of socialism and historical memory in Russia.

During her tenure as a Max Weber Fellow, she aims to turn her dissertation into a monograph tentatively entitled ‘Soviet Monumental Legacy in Russia: Histories of Heritage in the Making (1917-2000s)’. This long-term socio-historical study examines the evolution of actors, uses, roles and functions of transforming Soviet monumental productions into heritage. This publication intends to contribute to the writing of a global cross-cultural history of Soviet Russia, to offer new perspectives on the concept of heritage in socialist contexts, and to give some keys of understanding of socialist-era monument’s treatments in post-socialist contexts. In addition, she plans to carry on a research project related to a transnational history of Soviet heritage in chosen Soviet Republics.

Deschepper will be awarded her PhD from the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations in 2019. She also holds an MA in Contemporary History (Sorbonne Université) and an MA in Heritage Management (Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne).

Deschepper has experience teaching Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet History; heritage and cultural studies, and methodology of human sciences at both BA and MA levels. She has also led doctoral research seminars in Soviet avant-gardes and material culture of the USSR.