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book: The Rhetorical Rise and Demise of “Democracy” in Russian Political Discourse, Volume 3
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The Rhetorical Rise and Demise of “Democracy” in Russian Political Discourse, Volume 3

Vladimir Putin and the Redefinition of “Democracy” – 2000-2008
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Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2024

About this book

In Volume Three of this four-volume series, we examine the rhetorical development that occurred during the first two terms of Vladimir Putin’s tenure as president of the Russian Federation. Initially, Putin appeared to follow in the path set by his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, vowing that Russia was, at heart, a European nation and would be a westward facing democracy going forward. He even mentioned partnering with the EU and NATO. Eight years later, at the 2007 Munich Security Conference, Putin excoriated the West for, in his words, attempting to create a “unipolar world” in which NATO expansion threatened Russia’s security, the United States acted as the world’s sole “hegemon,” and Europe simply followed orders, relinquishing any sense of agency in its own affairs.

Author / Editor information

Contributor: David Cratis Williams 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. --- Contributor: Marilyn J. Young 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. --- Contributor: Michael K. Launer 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.

Reviews

“In this important volume Professors Williams, Young, and Launer undertake thorough and comprehensive studies of the rhetorical, argumentative, and media strategies that Vladimir Putin has employed in an attempt to shape Russian identity and to relaunch and rehabilitate the Russian empire. The work deepens our understanding of Russian culture, history, politics, and media systems and helps explain Putin’s goals, resentments, and ambitions. Chapters include foundational theoretical examinations of Russian symbols and key terms and case studies of discourse created to manage public crises and controversies. The volume is of course urgently important today given the war in Ukraine and the open confrontation between Putin’s Russia and the Western democratic alliance.” 

—Thomas Hollihan, University of Southern California 


"Williams, Young, and Launer's third volume is a tour de force in its skillful unpacking of Putin's definitional shifts and reconfiguring of the lexicon of Russian ‘democracy.’ Using the tools of rhetorical criticism and argumentation, the authors offer a compelling case for the ways in which Putin's public discourse both reflects and helps construct the movement from a national identity embracing democratic norms to an increasingly authoritative state."

— J. Robert Cox, Professor Emeritus, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


“This much anticipated third volume of a long-standing collaborative project gathers an expansive and revealing rhetorical archive to provide insight into the discursive forces fueling Russia’s gradual abandonment of the project of liberal democratization. In four sections covering the years between 2000 and 2008, the authors explore the philosophical and political exigencies that shaped President Vladimir Putin’s attitudes toward the West, the rhetorical production of Russian national identity in the transition from Yeltsin to Putin’s leadership, Russia’s evolving communication culture as a structural backdrop for its political development, as well as the reorganization of the county’s foreign policy. In each chapter, the reader encounters consistent effort at historical contextualization, painstaking application of rhetorical and argumentation theory, and an impressive body of primary materials that add up to a forceful explication and critique of Russia's slide toward authoritarianism.” 

— Zornitsa D. Keremidchieva, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Communication Studies, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

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    Frontmatter

    i
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    Contents

    vii
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    List of Photos

    xi
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    Dedication Noemi Marin (1954–2023)

    xv
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    Acknowledgements

    xix
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    Contributors

    xxi
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    Note to Readers

    xxiii
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    Preface

    xxv
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    Introduction to Volume Three

    xli
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    PART ONE Initial Considerations

    1
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    PART TWO Redefinition of the Russian Nation

    119
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    PART THREE “Democracy in Action” or “Democracy Inaction”

    191
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    PART FOUR International Relations

    277
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    Afterword

    359
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    Vladimir Putin and Dumitri Medvedev, 2008

    361
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    Bibliography

    363
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    Index

    411
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
March 19, 2024
eBook ISBN:
9798887193571
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
478
Coloured Illustrations:
23
View content
https://doi.org/10.1515/9798887193571
eBook ISBN: 9798887193571
Keywords for this book
argumentation; rhetorical criticism; rhetorical studies; Russia; US-Russia diplomatic relations; public address; Eurasianism; Orange revolution; Vladimir Putin; Munich Security Conference; Kursk; managed democracy; Russian demographic crisis; Russian national identity; liberty vs. security
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
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