Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
United Kingdom
fellow
Ian Garner
2026-2027
Home institution
Pilecki Institute in Warsaw
Country of origin (home institution)
Poland
Discipline(s)
Geography; Humanities; Interdisciplinary Studies; Modern history; Others; Social and economic history; Social Sciences
Theme(s)
Cities & States; Digital Society; Information & media; Peace & conflict
Fellowship dates
›
Biography
Dr Ian Garner is Assistant Professor at the Centre for Totalitarian Studies at the Pilecki Institute in Warsaw. He received his PhD from the Slavic Department at the University of Toronto in 2017, where his doctoral research examined the myth and memory of the Battle of Stalingrad in Soviet culture.
His work focuses on Russian and Soviet military culture, propaganda, digital media, and the politics of war memory. Before joining the Pilecki Institute, he taught at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University, Canada.
He is also a fellow at the Centre for International & Defence Policy in Kingston, Canada and a regular commentator and writer for major media outlets.
Research Project
Ambient War: Russia’s Digital Memory of World War II
During his Visiting Fellowship at CRASSH, Dr Garner will complete work on his forthcoming book, Ambient War: Russia’s Digital Memory of World War II. The project examines how memory of the Second World War circulates through contemporary Russian digital platforms, becoming an everyday and affective presence that shapes political belonging and militarisation in the present. Working at the intersection of memory studies, media theory, and digital humanities, the project explores how online infrastructures transform war memory from a historical narrative into a ubiquitous part of Russians’ social environment.
Research Interests:
Second World War; Russia; Memory; Media theory; Digital Humanities