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Explore the reasons behind the differences in perception between Russian and American elites, the role of the Other in national identity discourse, and the impact of the 2016 Presidential election on Russia-US relations.
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Why Do Russia and the US Need Each Other:Foreign Policy and National Identity Victoria I. Zhuravleva
Reasons for the differences in perception of the Russian and American elite 1. The Russians value stability, predictability and strive to manage conflicts based on pragmatism, whereas the Americans favor competition, an open expression of differences, consider the decentralized political system a boon and believe that ideology is good for politics. 2. The Russian and US elites see each other sporadically or not at all. The executive staff and officials in both countries who build their understanding of each other on the basis of popular cultural products or flamboyant authors like AleksandrDugin or Zbigniew Brzezinski. 3. The role of the Other (American or Russian respectively) in the national identity discourse (Russian or American respectively). Their confrontation is traditionally used as an instrument for political mobilization inside the countries.
Alexei Levinson: “America is our only significant Other. The rivalry with America does not unravel in the ‘real’ world arena, but in its reflection that exists in the Russian mass consciousness. And in this sphere, what matters is not to defeat the Other, but to be completely certain that we are not worse than them ... In this worldview, examples of good relations with America are an acknowledgement that they are equal to us or similar to us, and we – to them as the only basis for mutual good feelings.”
Angela Merkel: “Hey, damned barbarians! In a civilized world only the Black Overlord can decide who lives with whom.”
Alternative visual discourse: Obama’s “console for controlling Russia”
Alternative visual discourse:Obama as the “Russian benefactor”
The 2016 Presidential election and its influence on US-Russia relations
Alternative images of the American Other Trump-healer to Putin: “I can block hexes, break spells and lift sanctions” Be like Trump!
Alternative images of the American Other Putin: “We had no influence in theUS presidential elections”