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Ryssland hotar med kärnvapen: En kvalitativ innehållsanalys av avskräckning och kärnvapentabu gällande kriget i Ukraina

Brink, Axel LU (2025) UNDK02 20242
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This essay examines Russia’s nuclear rhetoric in relation to the war in Ukraine, with a focus on the strategic and normative dimensions of deterrence and the nuclear taboo. By using Thomas C. Schelling’s theories of deterrence and signaling and Nina Tannenwald’s theory of the nuclear weapons taboo, the study analyze how Russia’s rhetoric and actions relate to the theories in question. The study uses a qualitative content analysis to examine official statements, policy documents and actions, such as the updated Russian Nuclear doctrine from 2024. The results show that Russia’s nuclear rhetoric aims to deter NATO and Western support for Ukraine through a combination of explicit threats and vague wording. However, the effectiveness of these... (More)
This essay examines Russia’s nuclear rhetoric in relation to the war in Ukraine, with a focus on the strategic and normative dimensions of deterrence and the nuclear taboo. By using Thomas C. Schelling’s theories of deterrence and signaling and Nina Tannenwald’s theory of the nuclear weapons taboo, the study analyze how Russia’s rhetoric and actions relate to the theories in question. The study uses a qualitative content analysis to examine official statements, policy documents and actions, such as the updated Russian Nuclear doctrine from 2024. The results show that Russia’s nuclear rhetoric aims to deter NATO and Western support for Ukraine through a combination of explicit threats and vague wording. However, the effectiveness of these strategies is being questioned, as the West’s support for Ukraine continues despite Russia’s pressure. The study also highlights how Russia’s actions challenge the nuclear taboo by presenting nuclear weapon use as a legitimate response even to non-existential threats, which could lower the perceived threshold for nuclear weapon use. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Brink, Axel LU
supervisor
organization
course
UNDK02 20242
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
language
Swedish
id
9181012
date added to LUP
2025-02-17 11:06:50
date last changed
2025-02-17 11:06:50
@misc{9181012,
  abstract     = {{This essay examines Russia’s nuclear rhetoric in relation to the war in Ukraine, with a focus on the strategic and normative dimensions of deterrence and the nuclear taboo. By using Thomas C. Schelling’s theories of deterrence and signaling and Nina Tannenwald’s theory of the nuclear weapons taboo, the study analyze how Russia’s rhetoric and actions relate to the theories in question. The study uses a qualitative content analysis to examine official statements, policy documents and actions, such as the updated Russian Nuclear doctrine from 2024. The results show that Russia’s nuclear rhetoric aims to deter NATO and Western support for Ukraine through a combination of explicit threats and vague wording. However, the effectiveness of these strategies is being questioned, as the West’s support for Ukraine continues despite Russia’s pressure. The study also highlights how Russia’s actions challenge the nuclear taboo by presenting nuclear weapon use as a legitimate response even to non-existential threats, which could lower the perceived threshold for nuclear weapon use.}},
  author       = {{Brink, Axel}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Ryssland hotar med kärnvapen: En kvalitativ innehållsanalys av avskräckning och kärnvapentabu gällande kriget i Ukraina}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}