Russian Nationalism: Putin's Engagement with Nationalist Narratives in the Ukraine Conflict (2014-2022)
(2024) SIMZ11 20241Graduate School
- Abstract
- After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an opportunity arose to study the preceding period of inter-state conflict, shedding light on the processes in the escalation of conflict to war. Previous research of the conflict revealed an ongoing debate between the scholars Marlene Laruelle and Taras Kuzio. With Laruelle contending that the Russian state both facilitates and suppresses Russian nationalists, while Kuzio argues that Russian imperial nationalists influence the Russian state’s geopolitics. Thus, the purpose of the study was to investigate the nationalistic narratives referenced by the Russian state, employing a replicable systematic framework analysis of Vladimir Putin’s statements on Ukraine. Utilizing ethnosymbolism as an analytical... (More)
- After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an opportunity arose to study the preceding period of inter-state conflict, shedding light on the processes in the escalation of conflict to war. Previous research of the conflict revealed an ongoing debate between the scholars Marlene Laruelle and Taras Kuzio. With Laruelle contending that the Russian state both facilitates and suppresses Russian nationalists, while Kuzio argues that Russian imperial nationalists influence the Russian state’s geopolitics. Thus, the purpose of the study was to investigate the nationalistic narratives referenced by the Russian state, employing a replicable systematic framework analysis of Vladimir Putin’s statements on Ukraine. Utilizing ethnosymbolism as an analytical framework, incorporated with Kuzio’s and Laruelle’s concept of Russian nationalist factions. The study employs an abductive approach, inferring the most plausible explanation based on empirical evidence. Data sourced from the official Kremlin archive reveals an intermix of historical and cultural references originating in ethnie reinterpretations by the nationalist factions. The findings indicate that Putin transitioned from resisting to progressively embracing imperial nationalist narratives, implying a complex relationship between nationalist movements and the Russian state. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- The Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022 inspired the research of this thesis. Learning about the research done on the conflict revealed an ongoing debate between the two writers, Marlene Laruelle and Taras Kuzio. Their debate deals with the relationship between Russian nationalist groups and the Russian state, and if the nationalist groups are influencing the Russian state in its decision making. Kuzio believes that the nationalist groups have gained more influence and space in the political space since Vladimir Putin became President of Russia. Laruelle disagrees, she believes the Russian state is both stopping and providing the nationalist groups space to have the Russian state remain in power.
This thesis wanted to research the first-hand... (More) - The Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022 inspired the research of this thesis. Learning about the research done on the conflict revealed an ongoing debate between the two writers, Marlene Laruelle and Taras Kuzio. Their debate deals with the relationship between Russian nationalist groups and the Russian state, and if the nationalist groups are influencing the Russian state in its decision making. Kuzio believes that the nationalist groups have gained more influence and space in the political space since Vladimir Putin became President of Russia. Laruelle disagrees, she believes the Russian state is both stopping and providing the nationalist groups space to have the Russian state remain in power.
This thesis wanted to research the first-hand information from the conflict period between 2014 and 2022, using Vladimir Putin’s speeches regarding Ukraine to gain evidence that proves Kuzio or Laruelle as right or wrong. The study collects Putin’s speeches from the official Russian government website that has an archive keeping all his speeches. The study uses a transparent and systematic approach to guide the thesis and allow the reader to follow every step of the research process. The thesis uses a theory called ‘ethnosymbolism’ which understands nationalism as a modern occurrence, in which nationalists find and understand historical memories in their own way. Those memories grant the groups a sense of belonging and a common goal.
The research results found that Vladimir Putin uses these historical memories from nationalist groups when talking about Ukraine. Putin is in the first years of the 2014–2022 period resistant to the idea of taking Ukraine, which the nationalist groups believe is Russian land, but in the latter half of the period Putin accepts these ideas. The findings point to that the influence nationalist groups have on the Russian state decision making is complex and not straightforward, neither disproving nor proving Laruelle’s and Kuzio’s claims. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9158711
- author
- Milsten, Simon LU
- supervisor
-
- Olle Frödin LU
- organization
- alternative title
- Putin's Engagement with Nationalist Narratives in the Ukraine Conflict
- course
- SIMZ11 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Russian nationalism, Narratives, Ukraine, Russia, Ethnosymbolism
- language
- English
- id
- 9158711
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-26 12:34:15
- date last changed
- 2024-06-26 12:34:15
@misc{9158711,
abstract = {{After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an opportunity arose to study the preceding period of inter-state conflict, shedding light on the processes in the escalation of conflict to war. Previous research of the conflict revealed an ongoing debate between the scholars Marlene Laruelle and Taras Kuzio. With Laruelle contending that the Russian state both facilitates and suppresses Russian nationalists, while Kuzio argues that Russian imperial nationalists influence the Russian state’s geopolitics. Thus, the purpose of the study was to investigate the nationalistic narratives referenced by the Russian state, employing a replicable systematic framework analysis of Vladimir Putin’s statements on Ukraine. Utilizing ethnosymbolism as an analytical framework, incorporated with Kuzio’s and Laruelle’s concept of Russian nationalist factions. The study employs an abductive approach, inferring the most plausible explanation based on empirical evidence. Data sourced from the official Kremlin archive reveals an intermix of historical and cultural references originating in ethnie reinterpretations by the nationalist factions. The findings indicate that Putin transitioned from resisting to progressively embracing imperial nationalist narratives, implying a complex relationship between nationalist movements and the Russian state.}},
author = {{Milsten, Simon}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Russian Nationalism: Putin's Engagement with Nationalist Narratives in the Ukraine Conflict (2014-2022)}},
year = {{2024}},
}