Narratives in Conversation : A Study of Russia’s Strategic Narratives and Internarrativity

Abstract: In general, previous research on Russia’sstrategic narratives has assumed that Russian narratorsinstrumentally refer to other narratives to enhance the strategic narratives’ persuasiveness.Consequently, the implication is that the Russian narrators are unconstrained by their sociocultural situatedness since they are supposedly free to exploit other narratives for reasons of strategic benefit. This thesis questions these assumptions by examining the internarrative relationships between Russian strategic narratives and dominant Russian master narratives, and, moreover, the deeper meaning behind these relationships. The investigation of Russia’s strategic narratives is based on a narrative analysis of statements, speeches, and interviews that were given by Russian foreign policy elites during 2014. Additionally, the master narratives areanalysed with the aid of secondary material. The findings highlight how Russian master narratives structure the content and meaning of the strategic narratives. The relationship to certain master narratives may be beneficial for the efficiency of strategic narratives as they engender a sense of relatability. Nevertheless, it is also argued that internarrative relationshipscould decrease the strategic narratives’ persuasiveness since contradictions may surface, whichhighlights how cultural habits and heuristics can override strategical considerations. The findings are important since they illustrate how Russia’s formulation of strategic narratives iscontingent on socio-cultural surroundings and, in extension, this highlights how Russian strategical thinking is emotive and driven by cultural habits.