Does Integration Rhetoric Help? Eurasian Regionalism and the Rhetorical Dissonance of Russian Elites

Abstract

A widespread argument in regionalism studies is that elite narratives are crucial for strengthening regional integration projects. The essay shows that this conjecture does not hold in the case of Eurasian regionalism. Russian elites demonstrate a very high level of rhetorical commitment to regionalism. However, Russia’s rhetoric is characterised by a permanent dissonance. Officially, Russian elites highlight the equality of all participants in regional arrangements and respect for their sovereignty. At the same time, Russian politicians and bureaucrats regularly make imperialist statements to placate domestic audiences. As a result, most framings of Eurasian regionalism that can be derived from Russian discourses are highly unappealing to other post-Soviet states.