Re-enacting the Gulag

Commemorative events that address comprehensively the more difficult legacy of the Soviet Union, such as the Gulag heritage, are rarely examined, in particular how dark commemorative events contribute to understanding the Soviet past. This chapter examines Gulag commemoration at penal museums and its intersection with post-Soviet heritage and the politicisation of tourism. This chapter is twofold. First, it aims to briefly review the literature about cultural authenticity and the re-enactment of commemorative dark events in the context of Gulag heritage. It subsequently examines various tourism stakeholders’ re-enactment strategies of the Soviet Gulag heritage at two penal museums and how they are commodified and interpreted for visitors.