«Ukrainian Issue» in Russian Identity Policy

Abstract

An analytic approach is designed to link foreign and identity policies reveals policymaker’s the worldviews and beliefs. Identifying a link makes it possible to understand a policy decision that cannot be explained by the rational choice or long-term interest categories. It is obvious that the decisions on annexation of Crimea, the resolution of the armed conflict in the East of Ukraine are difficult to explain only through the lens of geopolitical revanchism of the Russian Federation. The current state of Russian-Ukrainian relations is determined by the conflict of identities. Both Ukraine and the Russian Federation have departed from the logic of the post-Soviet state and are trying to create future-oriented political projects. In the armed conflict, the Ukrainian political project is building on an anti-Russian basis, and its success depends on further distance from Russia. The Russian political class also pursues a policy negativizing the image of a neighboring state, creating narratives about the artificiality of the modern Ukraine’s borders and the extreme weakness of its institutions (failed state). At the same time, it is actively promoting the idea of Ukrainians and Russians are «one people». This «big idea» is placed in official discourse to please the nationalists, does not so much justify the Putin’s actions in Ukraine, but shapes the future Russian policy in the «Ukrainian issue». Resolving identity conflicts will help to shape modern political nations that will define the geographical boundaries of their states. It is important for Ukraine that the Ukrainian political nation can influence the Russians’ perceptions the possible borders of their own state. Key words: identity; foreign policy; political nation; borders; narrative; official discourse; Ukraine; Russian Federation.