In cahoots with the Kremlin : Strategic narrative alignment between the Georgian far right and Russia

Abstract: Russia’s connection to far-right movements is an emerging research area. By looking at the case of Georgia, a strategic narrative approach is employed to further understand this connection in a complex environment of anti-Russian sentiments. By developing an analytical framework looking into strategic narrative alignment, a focus is shifted to communication and storytelling. Russian News Agency TASS and two Georgian movements, Alliance of Patriots and Conservative Movement, are analysed through a narrative analysis and evaluated in how, and to what extent their narratives align. The results unveil echoing stories of a Western villain and future solutions of a Georgia tending to its true national interests. The Russian narrative aligns to a larger extent with the radical right party rather than the extreme right party. Aligning narration in antagonistic purposes can thereby implicate Georgia’s foreign policy direction of Euro-Atlantic integration by facilitation of Russian interests through domestic, far-right movements.