The Rhetorical Rise and Demise of “Democracy” in Russian Political Discourse, Volume 2

Russia in the 1990s had a “Wild West” vibe, as reformist and conservative elements struggled for ascendancy. It was a time of heightened media freedom, a burgeoning civil society, and a quest for a new national identity. This volume examines the arc of official political rhetoric during this critical period.

David Cratis Williams is Professor of Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Florida Atlantic University. His scholarship focuses on argumentation, rhetorical theory, and criticism; he is a recognized authority on Kenneth Burke. His work on Russian political discourse began during a meeting in Russia in January 1992.Young Marilyn J. :

Marilyn J. Young is the Wayne C. Minnick Professor of Communication Emerita at Florida State University. Her research has focused on political argument with an emphasis on the development of political rhetoric and argument in the former Soviet Union, particularly Russia. She remains an active scholar in retirement.Launer Michael K. :

Michael K. Launer is Professor Emeritus of Russian at Florida State University. In 1987 he interpreted for the first group of Soviet scientists visiting the US following Chernobyl. A State Department certified technical interpreter, he supported Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy assistance programs through 2012.

David Cratis Williams is Professor of Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Florida Atlantic University. His scholarship focuses on argumentation, rhetorical theory, and criticism; he is a recognized authority on Kenneth Burke. His work on Russian political discourse began during a meeting in Russia in January 1992.

Marilyn J. Young is the Wayne C. Minnick Professor of Communication Emerita at Florida State University. Her research has focused on political argument with an emphasis on the development of political rhetoric and argument in the former Soviet Union, particularly Russia. She remains an active scholar in retirement.

Michael K. Launer is Professor Emeritus of Russian at Florida State University. In 1987 he interpreted for the first group of Soviet scientists visiting the US following Chernobyl. A State Department certified technical interpreter, he supported Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy assistance programs through 2012.

“After recounting the shocking story of how the authors became personally involved in Russia’s pro-democracy movement, The Promise of 'Democracy' during the Yeltsin Years introduces the concept of ‘cultures of democratic communication,’ explores its interactions with multi-layered contexts, and reveals how attention to a wide range of multimodal products is necessary to understanding its full functionality. Simply a must-read for scholars of international communication, rhetorical studies, and democracy formation and sustainability.”

– Carol Kay Winkler, Professor of Communication Studies, Georgia State University

“This volume is an invaluable resource for those who study Russian political rhetoric because it articulates the consequences of Russia’s failure to develop a culture of democratic communication and the habits of political argumentation. It collects under one cover essays translated from Russian, already published essays, and unpublished works, making accessible an impressive range of scholarship that otherwise would be extremely difficult (if not impossible for those who do not speak Russian) to access. As I read the manuscript, the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, intensified, and dragged into its 50th day. As I struggled to figure out how the world got to this moment, the essays in the volume gave me resources to explain the political conditions that made such a horror possible. They highlight the complicated political conditions that confronted Russia as it emerged from the dissolution of the USSR.”

– Catherine H. Palczewski, Professor, Department of Communication and Media, University of Northern Iowa