politscienceПолитическая наукаPolitical science1998-1775ИНИОН РАН10.31249/poln/2025.02.03politscience-1159Research ArticleРАКУРСЫ(Пере)воображая регион: нарративы о «Евразии» в дискурсе В.В. Путина (2011–2024)(Re)imagining the region: narratives of “Eurasia” in the discourse of Vladimir Putin (2011–2024)https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7534-8091ВанЯ.WangYa.

Ван Яли, аспирант

Москва

Wang Yali

Moscow

yavan@hse.ruНациональный исследовательский университет «Высшая школа экономики»РоссияHSE UniversityRussian Federation20252305202502Слова и символы как медиаторы в политике и политических исследованиях6287Copyright © Ван Я., 20252025Ван Я.Wang Y.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://www.politnauka.ru/jour/article/view/1159

Несмотря на популярность концепта «Евразия» в российском политическом дискурсе нельзя сказать, что его содержание и географические границы отличаются определенностью. Данная статья посвящена анализу трансформации представлений о «Евразии» и нарративов регионостроительства в дискурсе В.В. Путина с 2011 по 2024 г. В рамках интерпретативистских парадигм в статье предлагается оригинальный нарративный подход к изучению процесса конструирования региона. Заимствуя концепцию «нарративного шаблона» Дж. Верча и используя герменевтическую теорию нарратива, автор осуществляет нарративный анализ ключевых выступлений В. Путина, связанных с темой «Евразии» за 14 лет. Исходя из специфических нарративов о «Евразии», артикулировавшихся Путиным в различных контекстах, в статье были выделены повторяющиеся темы и общие нарративные элементы, на основе которых были реконструированы нарративные шаблоны.

Результаты исследования показывают, что в дискурсе Путина концепт «Евразия» приобретает три основных значения с разными географическими границами: государства (Россия), региона (постсоветское пространство) и континента («Большая Евразия»). Также в дискурсе Путина выделяются два нарративных шаблона о «Евразии»: функционально-экономический и цивилизационно-суверенный. В рамках этих шаблонов формируются различные сюжетные линии и образы «других», основанные на различных представлениях о будущем, что раскрывает двойственную логику воображения о «Евразии».

The concept of “Eurasia” has gained significant prominence in Russian political discourse in recent years, yet its geographical boundaries and ideological content remain ambiguous. This study explores the transformation of representations of “Eurasia” and the region-building narratives within the discourse of Vladimir Putin from 2011 to 2024. Framed by interpretivist and poststructuralist paradigms, the study introduces an innovative narrative approach to examining the discursive construction of regions. Drawing on J. Wertsch’s concept of the “narrative template” and the hermeneutic theory of narrative, the author conducted a three-stage narrative analysis of key speeches by Putin related to the theme of “Eurasia” over the past 14 years. First, the article analyzes specific narratives on “Eurasia” articulated by Putin across various contexts. Second, the author identifies recurring themes and narrative elements. Finally, the study reconstructs narrative templates.

The findings reveal that the concept of “Eurasia” in Putin’s discourse operates on three levels with different boundaries: as a state (Russia), as a region (the post- Soviet space), and as the whole continent (“Greater Eurasia”). At the same time, two narrative templates can be identified: functional-economic and civilizational-sovereign. Within these templates, various storylines are constructed, based on different visions of the future, which reveals the dual logic of Putin’s imagination regarding “Eurasia”.

ЕвразиянарративВ.В. Путинрегионгеографическое воображениенарративный шаблонEurasianarrativeVladimir Putinregiongeographical imaginationnarrative templateReferencesВахитов Р.Р. Диалектическое определение евразийства // Вопросы философии. – 2020. – № 7. – С. 136–149. – DOI: https://doi.org/10.21146/0042-8744-2020-7-136-149Abbott H.P. The Cambridge introduction to narrative. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2008, 270 p.Дружинин А.Г. Идеи классического евразийства и современность: общественно-географический анализ: монография. – Ростов-на-Дону, Таганрог: Издательство Южного федерального университета, 2021. – 270 с.Akchurina V., Della Sala V. Russia, Europe and the ontological security dilemma: narrating the emerging Eurasian space. Europe-Asia studies. 2018, Vol. 70, N 10, P. 1638–1655. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2018.1546829Замятин Д.Н. Вообразить Россию: к становлению геокультур и метагеографий Северной Евразии. – СПб.: Алетейя, 2024. – 476 с.Bassin M., Glebov S., Laruelle M. (eds). Between Europe and Asia: The origins, theories, and legacies of Russian eurasianism. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh press, 2015, 267 p.Замятин Д.Н. Геократия. Евразия как образ, символ и проект российской цивилизации // Полис. Политические исследования. – 2009. – № 1. – С. 71–99.Brockmeier J., Meretoja H. Understanding narrative hermeneutics. Storyworlds: A journal of narrative studies. 2014, Vol. 6, N 2, P. 1–27.Колосов В.А. Критическая геополитика: основы концепции и опыт ее применения в России // Политическая наука. – 2011. – № 4. – С. 31–52.Browning C.S. The region-building approach revisited: The continued othering of Russia in discourses of region-building in the European North. Geopolitics. 2003, Vol. 8, N 1, P. 45–71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/714001005Кузнецов Д.А., Грачевский Г.А. Концепция «Индо-Пацифики» в контексте международного регионостроительства // Мировая политика. – 2022. – № 1. – С. 93–105.De Fina A. Narrative analysis. In: Wodak R., Forchtner B. (eds). The Routledge handbook of language and politics. London: Routledge, 2017, P. 233–246.Малинова О.Ю. Коммеморация столетия революции(й) 1917 года в РФ: сравнительный анализ соперничающих нарративов // Полис. Политические исследования. – 2018. – № 2. – С. 37–56. – DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2018.02.04de Witte F. Integrating the subject: Narratives of emancipation in regionalism. European journal of international law. 2019, Vol. 30, N 1, P. 257–278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chz005Окунев И.Ю. Географическое воображение как предмет исследования критической геополитики // Политическая наука. – 2009. – № 4. – С. 126–137.Druzhinin A.G. The ideas of classical eurasianism: socio-geographical analysis. Rostovon-Don, Taganrog: Southern Federal university press, 2021, 270 p. (In Russ.)Постсоветское пограничье России между Востоком и Западом (анализ политического дискурса). Часть II. Глядя на Восток / В.А. Колосов, М.В. Зотова, Ф.А. Попов, А.А. Гриценко, А.Б. Себенцов // Полис. Политические исследования. – 2018. – № 5. – С. 57–69. – DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2018.05.06Fairclough N. Analysing discourse. London: Routledge, 2003, 270 p.Цымбурский В.Л. Дважды рожденная «Евразия» и геостратегические циклы России // Вестник Евразии. – 2003. – № 4. – С. 5–33.Gee J. P. Social linguistics and literacies: Ideology in discourses. London: Falmer Press, 1990, 203 p.Цымбурский В.Л. Две Евразии: омонимия как ключ к идеологии раннего евразийства // Вестник Евразии. – 1998. – № 1–2. – С. 6–30.Gilbert M. Narrating the process: Questioning the progressive story of European integration. JCMS: Journal of common market studies. 2008, Vol. 46, N 3, P. 641–662. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5965.2008.00795.xHann C. A concept of Eurasia. Current anthropology. 2016, Vol. 57, N 1, P. 1–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/684625Hann C. A concept of Eurasia. Current anthropology. 2016, Vol. 57, N 1, P. 1–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/684625Herman D., Jahn M., Ryan M. L. Routledge encyclopedia of narrative theory. London: Routledge, 2010, 718 p.Herman D., Jahn M., Ryan M. L. Routledge encyclopedia of narrative theory. London: Routledge, 2010, 718 p.Kazharski A. Eurasian integration and the Russian World. Regionalism as an identitary enterprise. Budapest, New York: Central European university press, 2019, 208 p.Kazharski A. Eurasian integration and the Russian World. Regionalism as an identitary enterprise. Budapest, New York: Central European university press, 2019, 208 p.Kolosov V.A. Critical geopolitics: foundations of the concept and its application in Russia. Political science (RU). 2011, N 4, P. 31–52. (In Russ.)Kolosov V.A. Critical geopolitics: foundations of the concept and its application in Russia. Political science (RU). 2011, N 4, P. 31–52. (In Russ.)Kolosov V.A., Zotova M.V., Popov F.A., Gritsenko A.A., Sebentzov A.B. Russia's Post-Soviet borderzone in between East and West (Analysis of political discourse). Part II: Looking East. Polis. Political Studies. 2018, N 3, P. 42–59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2018.05.06 (In Russ.)Kolosov V.A., Zotova M.V., Popov F.A., Gritsenko A.A., Sebentzov A.B. Russia's Post-Soviet borderzone in between East and West (Analysis of political discourse). Part II: Looking East. Polis. Political Studies. 2018, N 3, P. 42–59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2018.05.06 (In Russ.)Kuznetsov D.A., Grachevskii G.A. The concept of “Indo-Pacifica” in the context of international region building. World politics. 2022, N 1, P. 93–105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25136/2409-8671.2022.1.37605 (In Russ.)Kuznetsov D.A., Grachevskii G.A. The concept of “Indo-Pacifica” in the context of international region building. World politics. 2022, N 1, P. 93–105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25136/2409-8671.2022.1.37605 (In Russ.)Labov W. Narrative pre-construction. Narrative inquiry. 2006, Vol. 16, N 1, P. 37–45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.16.1.07labLabov W. Narrative pre-construction. Narrative inquiry. 2006, Vol. 16, N 1, P. 37–45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.16.1.07labLaruelle M. Russian eurasianism: an ideology of empire. Washington: Woodrow Wilson Center Press; Baltimore: Johns Hopkins university press, 2008, 276 p.Laruelle M. Russian eurasianism: an ideology of empire. Washington: Woodrow Wilson Center Press; Baltimore: Johns Hopkins university press, 2008, 276 p.Libman A. Does integration rhetoric help? Eurasian regionalism and the rhetorical dissonance of Russian elites. Europe-Asia Studies. 2022, Vol. 74, N 9, P. 1574–1595. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2022.2120184Libman A. Does integration rhetoric help? Eurasian regionalism and the rhetorical dissonance of Russian elites. Europe-Asia Studies. 2022, Vol. 74, N 9, P. 1574–1595. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2022.2120184Makarychev A. Normative and civilisational regionalisms: The EU, Russia and their common neighbourhoods. The International spectator. 2018, Vol. 53, N 3, P. 1–19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2018.1483630Makarychev A. Normative and civilisational regionalisms: The EU, Russia and their common neighbourhoods. The International spectator. 2018, Vol. 53, N 3, P. 1–19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2018.1483630Malinova O.Yu. Legitimizing Putin’s regime: The transformations of the narrative of Russia’s post-Soviet transition. Communist and Post-Communist studies. 2022, Vol. 55, N 1, P. 52–75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/j.postcomstud.2022.55.1.52Malinova O.Yu. Legitimizing Putin’s regime: The transformations of the narrative of Russia’s post-Soviet transition. Communist and Post-Communist studies. 2022, Vol. 55, N 1, P. 52–75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/j.postcomstud.2022.55.1.52Malinova O.Yu. The Commemoration in Russia of the Centenary of the 1917 Revolution(s): comparative analysis of rival narratives. Polis. Political studies. 2018, N 2, P. 37–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2018.02.04 (In Russ.)Malinova O.Yu. The Commemoration in Russia of the Centenary of the 1917 Revolution(s): comparative analysis of rival narratives. Polis. Political studies. 2018, N 2, P. 37–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2018.02.04 (In Russ.)Meretoja H. The ethics of storytelling: narrative hermeneutics, history and the possible. New York: Oxford university press, 2018, 368 p.Meretoja H. The ethics of storytelling: narrative hermeneutics, history and the possible. New York: Oxford university press, 2018, 368 p.Neumann I.B. A region-building approach. In: Söderbaum F., Shaw T.M. (eds). Theories of new regionalism: A Palgrave reader. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2003, P. 160–178. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403938794_9Neumann I.B. A region-building approach. In: Söderbaum F., Shaw T.M. (eds). Theories of new regionalism: A Palgrave reader. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2003, P. 160–178. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403938794_9Novelli D., Pereira A.E. What makes a region: establishing analytical dimensions for the application of Neumann’s region-building approach. Revista Brasileira de informação bibliográfica em ciências sociais. 2019, Vol. 89, P. 1–28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17666/bib8904/2019Novelli D., Pereira A.E. What makes a region: establishing analytical dimensions for the application of Neumann’s region-building approach. Revista Brasileira de informação bibliográfica em ciências sociais. 2019, Vol. 89, P. 1–28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17666/bib8904/2019Okunev I.Yu. Geographical imagination as a subject of critical geopolitics research. Political science (RU). 2009, N 4, P. 126–137. (In Russ.)Okunev I.Yu. Geographical imagination as a subject of critical geopolitics research. Political science (RU). 2009, N 4, P. 126–137. (In Russ.)Polkinghorne D. E. Narrative configuration in qualitative analysis. International journal of qualitative studies in education. 1995, Vol. 8, N 1, P. 5–23.Polkinghorne D. E. Narrative configuration in qualitative analysis. International journal of qualitative studies in education. 1995, Vol. 8, N 1, P. 5–23.Ricoeur P. Narrative time. Critical inquiry. 1980, Vol. 7, N 1, P. 169–190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/448093Ricoeur P. Narrative time. Critical inquiry. 1980, Vol. 7, N 1, P. 169–190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/448093Ricoeur P. Time and Narrative. Chicago: University of Chicago press, 1984, Vol. 1, 285 p.Ricoeur P. Time and Narrative. Chicago: University of Chicago press, 1984, Vol. 1, 285 p.Robert D., Shenhav S. Fundamental assumptions in narrative analysis: mapping the field. The Qualitative report. 2014, Vol. 19, N 38, P. 1–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1005Robert D., Shenhav S. Fundamental assumptions in narrative analysis: mapping the field. The Qualitative report. 2014, Vol. 19, N 38, P. 1–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1005Shenhav S. R. Concise narratives: a structural analysis of political discourse. Discourse studies. 2005, Vol. 7, N 3, P. 315–335. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461445605052189Shenhav S. R. Concise narratives: a structural analysis of political discourse. Discourse studies. 2005, Vol. 7, N 3, P. 315–335. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461445605052189Shenhav S. R. Political narratives and political reality. International political science review. 2006, Vol. 27, N 3, P. 245–262. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512106064474Shenhav S. R. Political narratives and political reality. International political science review. 2006, Vol. 27, N 3, P. 245–262. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512106064474Smirnov A.V. Classical eurasianism as a Post-Revolutionary philosophy. Russian studies in philosophy. 2020, Vol. 58, N 6, P. 522–534. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10611967.2020.1868263Smirnov A.V. Classical eurasianism as a Post-Revolutionary philosophy. Russian studies in philosophy. 2020, Vol. 58, N 6, P. 522–534. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10611967.2020.1868263Soderbaum F. Theories of regionalism. In: Beeson M., Stubbs R. (eds). The Routledge handbook of Asian regionalism. London: Routledge, 2011, P. 11–21.Soderbaum F. Theories of regionalism. In: Beeson M., Stubbs R. (eds). The Routledge handbook of Asian regionalism. London: Routledge, 2011, P. 11–21.Stapleton K., Wilson J. Telling the story: Meaning making in a community narrative. Journal of pragmatics. 2017, Vol. 108, P. 60–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2016.11.003Stapleton K., Wilson J. Telling the story: Meaning making in a community narrative. Journal of pragmatics. 2017, Vol. 108, P. 60–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2016.11.003Suslov M. Continent Eurasia in Russian geopolitical imagination. In: Suslov M. (ed.). Geopolitical imagination: Ideology and utopia in Post-Soviet Russia. Stuttgart: Ibidem Press, 2020, P. 203–226.Suslov M. Continent Eurasia in Russian geopolitical imagination. In: Suslov M. (ed.). Geopolitical imagination: Ideology and utopia in Post-Soviet Russia. Stuttgart: Ibidem Press, 2020, P. 203–226.Trenin D. The end of Eurasia: Russia on the border between geopolitics and globalization. Washington, Moscow: Carnegie endowment for international peace, 2002, 354 p.Trenin D. The end of Eurasia: Russia on the border between geopolitics and globalization. Washington, Moscow: Carnegie endowment for international peace, 2002, 354 p.Tsygankov A.P. Mastering space in Eurasia: Russia’s geopolitical thinking after the Soviet break-up. Communist and post-communist studies. 2003, Vol. 36, N 1, Р. 101–127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0967-067x(02)00055-7Tsygankov A.P. Mastering space in Eurasia: Russia’s geopolitical thinking after the Soviet break-up. Communist and post-communist studies. 2003, Vol. 36, N 1, Р. 101–127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0967-067x(02)00055-7Tsygankov A.P. Russia, Eurasia and the meaning of Crimea. Europe-Asia studies. 2022, Vol. 74, N 9, Р. 1551–1573. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2022.2134307Tsygankov A.P. Russia, Eurasia and the meaning of Crimea. Europe-Asia studies. 2022, Vol. 74, N 9, Р. 1551–1573. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2022.2134307Tsymbursky V.L. Twice-born “Eurasia” and the geostrategic cycles of Russia. Vestnik Evrazii. 2003, N 4, P. 5–33. (In Russ.)Tsymbursky V.L. Twice-born “Eurasia” and the geostrategic cycles of Russia. Vestnik Evrazii. 2003, N 4, P. 5–33. (In Russ.)Tsymbursky V.L. Two Eurasias: homonymy as a key to the ideology of early Eurasianism. Vestnik Evrazii. 1998, N 1–2, P. 6–30. (In Russ.)Tsymbursky V.L. Two Eurasias: homonymy as a key to the ideology of early Eurasianism. Vestnik Evrazii. 1998, N 1–2, P. 6–30. (In Russ.)Vakhitov R.R. Dialectical definition of Eurasianism. Voprosy filosofii. 2020, N 7, P. 136–149. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21146/0042-8744-2020-7-136-149 (In Russ.)Vakhitov R.R. Dialectical definition of Eurasianism. Voprosy filosofii. 2020, N 7, P. 136–149. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21146/0042-8744-2020-7-136-149 (In Russ.)Vieira A.V.G. Eurasian integration: elite perspectives before and after the Ukraine crisis. Post-Soviet affairs. 2016, Vol. 32, N 6, P. 566–580. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1060586x.2015.1118200Vieira A.V.G. Eurasian integration: elite perspectives before and after the Ukraine crisis. Post-Soviet affairs. 2016, Vol. 32, N 6, P. 566–580. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1060586x.2015.1118200Wertsch J. V. Collective memory and narrative templates. Social research: an international quarterly. 2008, Vol. 75, N 1, P. 133–156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2008.0051Wertsch J. V. Collective memory and narrative templates. Social research: an international quarterly. 2008, Vol. 75, N 1, P. 133–156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2008.0051Wertsch J. V. How nations remember: a narrative approach. Oxford: Oxford university press, 2021, 271 p.Wertsch J. V. How nations remember: a narrative approach. Oxford: Oxford university press, 2021, 271 p.Wertsch J. V. Voices of collective remembering. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2002, 202 p.Wertsch J. V. Voices of collective remembering. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2002, 202 p.Zamyatin D.N. Geocracy. Eurasia as an image, symbol, and project of Russian civilization. Polis. Political studies. 2009, N 1, P. 71–99. (In Russ.)Zamyatin D.N. Geocracy. Eurasia as an image, symbol, and project of Russian civilization. Polis. Political studies. 2009, N 1, P. 71–99. (In Russ.)Zamyatin D.N. Imagining Russia: towards the formation of geocultures and metageographies of Northern Eurasia. Saint Petersburg: Aleteia, 2024, 476 p. (In Russ.)Zamyatin D.N. Imagining Russia: towards the formation of geocultures and metageographies of Northern Eurasia. Saint Petersburg: Aleteia, 2024, 476 p. (In Russ.)

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.