(Re)imagining the region: narratives of “Eurasia” in the discourse of Vladimir Putin (2011–2024)
https://doi.org/10.31249/poln/2025.02.03
Abstract
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”.
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