Welcome to RUCARR seminar 10 November!

Shuhei Mizoguchi: "How Did the West Become Russia's Adversary? The Evolution of Anti-Westernism in Presidential Discourse"

Speaker

Shuhei Mizoguchi

Abstract

Was Vladimir Putin always an imperialist, or did he gradually become one? When Putin first came to power in 2000, he appeared to be a pragmatic leader willing to cooperate with the West. Two decades later, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, portraying the West as an existential threat. What happened in between? This talk explores when and how Russia's official discourse shifted from cooperation to confrontation with the West. Drawing on an analysis of Russian presidential speeches, it traces the evolution of anti-Westernism, focusing on changing narratives about Western power, liberal values, and Russia's national identity. By examining these changes, the talk offers a fresh perspective on Putin's political evolution and the background to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.