THE “RUSSIAN WORLD” CONCEPT: CRITICAL GEOPOLITICS AND ITS POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL ASPECTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48371/ISMO.2025.60.2.002Keywords:
Russian World, imagined communities, Eurasianism, biopolitics, critical geopolitics, Post-Soviet space, multipolar world, soft powerAbstract
This article analyzes the components of ideology of the contemporary regime of Russia namely the “Russian World” (Russkiy Mir), imagined communities, Eurasianism, and biopolitics – through the lens of critical geopolitics. The concept of the “Russian World” has increasingly occupied a central position in the Kremlin’s ideological narratives. It portrays Russia as a transnational civilization extending beyond its current political borders and uniting communities through language, history, and shared cultural values.
Imagined communities, as manifested in the idea of the “Russian World”, support this narrative by presenting these transnational ties as a complex and cohesive social construct. Eurasianism, revived as an ideological discourse following the collapse of the Soviet Union, seeks to define Russia as a distinct civilization – neither Western nor Eastern.
The methodology employed in this study draws upon logical and historical methods, as well as an analysis of the interconnections among the manifestations of the “Russian World”. The academic significance lies in elucidating the nature of this ideological construct, which serves to legitimize Russia’s geopolitical ambitions, particularly in relation to neighboring states. The practical relevance of this understanding lies in its utility for anticipating the range of tools and strategies ranging from soft to hard power, including hybrid forms deployed by Russia in its near abroad.
In relation to Kazakhstan, a soft version of the “Russian World” is applied; the most extreme form is applied to Ukraine, the so-called “special military operation”; while Belarus is an example of integration within the framework of the so-called Union State of Belarus and Russia. The conclusions of this article help to uncover the underlying essence and origins of the "Russian World" beyond propagandistic rhetoric, revealing its role as a vehicle for Russia’s aspiration to become one of the poles in the multipolar world order.
Funding: The research in the article was carried out with grant funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan within the framework of the AP26100127 project “Improving the digital media literacy of Kazakhstanis in the context of the effectiveness of political communication”.
