Othering in the Olympics

Abstract: Through the use of discourse analysis, this study examines how Russian identity claims have changed during increased tension with the West and to what extent it is noticed in the political arena of the Winter Olympics. The material consists of speeches and statements from leaders in the Russian government and the theoretical framework is based on Iver Neumann’s and Tzvetan Todorov’s theories on Othering. The purpose of the study is to further understand changes in Russia’s identity rhetoric about the Self and the Other in the three latest Winter Olympics. The study determines that Russia’s identity rhetoric has changed drastically during the three Games. Russia’s value judgement of the Other seems to have gone from desirable to despicable, moreover, the Winter Olympics seem to reflect the increased tension and detachment from the West. The Winter Olympics appear to constitute a political tool to steer and strengthen constructions of identities and the study determines that Russia increasingly manifests the West and especially the US as enemies.