The imitation game : An analysis of Russian and Anglo-Saxon strategic narratives in connection to military intervention abroad

• Main Author: Granath, Frida
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Uppsala universitet, Medier och kommunikation 2021
• Subjects: imitation theory; strategic narratives; soft power; military intervention; the United States; the United Kingdom; Russia; Libya; Syria; Other Humanities not elsewhere specified; Övrig annan humaniora
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-447566

This study focuses on the similarities and differences between Russian and Anglo-Saxon strategic narratives in relation to the interventions in Syria 2015 and Libya 2011. The aim is to investigate the imitation theory further as it has been described by Krastev and Holmes (2019) and if it is possible to claim that the Russian regime has used imitated strategic narratives from the United States and the United Kingdom as a soft power tool in the Syrian intervention. By using narrative analysis, 12 speeches made by Putin, Medvedev, Lavrov, Camron, and Obama have been analyzed in order to find similarities and differences between Anglo-Saxon and Russian strategic narratives in connection to interventions in countries affected by the Arabic Spring. The results show indication of imitation from the Russian side regarding themes such as the United Nations and people’s right to choose their own governanc