Theorising resilience: Russia’s reaction to US and EU sanctions

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article analyses responses in the Russian media to the economic sanctions imposed in the wake of the annexation of Crimea. We look at the near-Kremlin figure Dmitry Kiselyov, explaining how elite actors employ persuasive tools in order to fashion and promote collective resilience not only as a value, but also as part of a quest for a post-Soviet identity. We show how resilience in the face of economic hardship is built and sustained, ensuring the continuity of the incumbent government. We further theorise on the underpinnings of constructing resilience, which ultimately strengthens national identity in the post-Soviet ideological vacuum.