Arctic Political Discourses : Constructing a Russian National Identity

• Main Author: Karlsen, Kristofer
• Other Authors: Helsingin yliopisto, Valtiotieteellinen tiedekunta, Politiikan ja talouden tutkimuksen laitos, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political and Economic Studies, Helsingfors universitet, Statsvetenskapliga fakulteten, Institutionen för politik och ekonomi
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Helsingfors universitet 2016
• Subjects: Russia; arctic; national identity; identity; nation; policy; discourse; politics; Poliittinen historia; Political History; Politisk historia; Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/193568

This research explores how Russian national identity is constructed through political discourses pertaining to the Arctic. Theoretically this thesis addresses how national identity is constructed through these discourses and subsequently how this identity is used to justify Russia’s Arctic policy to a domestic as well as an international audience. In order to achieve this a hybrid methodology combining critical discourse analysis and political discourse analysis was applied to two forms of political discourses; speeches by politicians and policy papers. This research has identified five discourses through which a Russian national identity is constructed and policy legitimised. These are international cooperation, security, governance, Russia as Arctic, and environment.