The Russian dilemma: identity construction toward the BRICS
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tartu Ülikool
Abstract
Russia faces an internal dilemma while projecting its identity toward the BRICS.
The literature on the country identity suggests that it manifests both an imperial and great
powerness self-perception, but in this case, Russia is dealing with a group with a solid
postcolonial set of values. The poststructuralist discourse analysis was the primary
method for analyzing the country's instrumentalization of that dichotomy and the
outcomes for Russian identity construction. The gathered data consists of the public and
official discourses of both Russia and the BRICS during its regular and extraordinary
meetings. It was possible to indicate that the country shows evidence of an attempt to
engage its objectives in the group's agenda by the projection of its identity toward the
group. The study also shows that Russia is under the effects of Othering with the BRICS.
In which the contact with the group identity is also shaping the country's identity. The
conclusion is that Russia is developing a pragmatic approach to postcolonial narratives to
advance its agenda, but the country was not able to construct a solid leadership in the
BRICS.