The Image of the “Other” in Identity Politics of Contemporary Russia

Abstract

The paper considers using the image of the West as a significant “Other” for the formation of the national identity in Russia. Political modernism of J. Broglie and antagonism in politics of K. Schmitt constitute the theoretical framework of the study. The author analyzes the normative legal acts related to the securitization of identity and politicians’ speeches using the image of the “Other”. The article claims that the Russian political elite uses the narrative of traditional values of Russian culture to establish a boundary between “us” and “them”, i.e., the representatives of Western cultures. The article describes the transition from the interpretation of the West as “other”, which erodes the culture and traditions of the Russians, to the perception of the West as the “enemy”. The hypothesis is put forward that national identity policy is pursued by the Russian political elite to achieve the cooperation of political institutions, increase the loyalty of certain social groups and legitimize political actions in the international arena.