Nationalism under Putin's Church-State: Justifying Aggression in Ukrainian War

• In Event: Governing Autocracies in Russia and Eastern Europe

Abstract

This paper analyzes President Putin's nationalistic rhetoric and its role in legitimizing Russia's aggressive international behavior, with a focus on the "Russian World" narrative encompassing Ukraine. The study draws on data from the Levada Center, Kasianenko (2021), Goudimiak (2014), and primary sources of Putin's own speeches to categorize and analyze Putin's speeches before and after key aggressive actions. The findings reveal dominant themes, including "helping Ukrainian/brother nation/illegitimate coup" and "projecting blame/lack of dialogue." Putin's rhetorical volume and content intensify during conflicts, indicating a correlation between nationalism and aggression. The Church-State dyad significantly influences this rhetoric, bolstering Putin's domestic approval. Understanding the interplay of religion and state rhetoric provides valuable insights into Russia's authoritarian regime, its toolkit for engaging its audience, and the impact of nationalism on international relations. As of February 2023, 75% of Russians support the war against Ukraine, highlighting the effectiveness of Putin's nationalism in legitimizing these actions. The paper contributes to predicting and analyzing Russia's behavior during times of heightened nationalistic pride, also calling for further research into the legitimacy of nationalistic claims and their impact on sovereignty and territorial disputes, both in the Russian-Ukrainian context and globally.

Author

• Jadie Minhas, Arizona State University