Bulletin n. 2/2016 | ||
December 2016 | ||
Charles E. Ziegler |
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Russia as a nationalizing state: Rejecting the western liberal order | ||
in International Politics , Volume 53, Issue 5 , 2016 , 555-573 Get Access | ||
Russia’s government has become increasingly nationalistic, defensive, and vocal in rejecting elements of the Western liberal order. The Kremlin has attempted to mobilize and channel Russian nationalism into an antiliberal discourse to achieve selected foreign and domestic policy goals, but contending nationalisms complicate the government’s ability to control and direct these potent forces. This article draws on official documents, presidential speeches, and recent Russian political writings to assess how Russia’s governing elite has adopted and utilized a specific Eurasianist form of Russian nationalism to promote an aggressive foreign policy while marginalizing domestic opposition. Protecting Russian compatriots abroad, restoring historic lost territories, and confronting the Western world strengthen Putin’s popularity among the Russian people and legitimize his hold on power, while alienating non-Russian minorities and isolating Russia internationally. | ||