Biographical Narratives and Routines of Putin's Russia in the Context of the Ukraine Crisis

Abstract

The article argues that Russia's decision to initiate an attack on Ukraine in February 2022 was an inevitable move for both its material and ontological security. By adopting an offensive stance and directly engaging in a conflict with a former Soviet country, Russia transformed the ongoing tension with the West into a full-fledged confrontation. At this juncture, the article primarily emphasizes that Russia's assault on Ukraine has solidified its "anti-Western" rhetoric, which serves as a crucial pillar of its ontological security. However, it asserts that while this aggression bolstered the anti-Western discourse to some extent, it also harmed Russia's ontological security in terms of other biographical narratives and routines. In essence, the article examines the historical development of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and delves beyond the concrete steps taken, exploring the dangers posed by such aggressive behavior to Russia's ontological security, particularly with regard to its biographical narratives and routines. Within this framework, the article posits that Russia's ontological security relies on contemporary biographical narratives and routines rooted in the discourse of the “continuing state”, "strong state", sovereign democracy," "anti-Westernism," "anti-globalism," and "neo-Eurasianism.".

Keywords

• Russia
• Ukraine Crisis
• Offensive Realism
• Ontological Security
• Neo-eurasianism

Ukrayna Krizi Bağlamında Putin Rusyası’nın Biyografik Anlatıları ve Rutinleri

Abstract

Şubat 2022’de Ukrayna’ya saldırı başlatan Rusya Federasyonu için söz konusu hamle hem maddi hem ontolojik güvenliği için kaçınılmaz bir hamle idi. Saldırgan bir tutumla Rusya’nın eski bir Sovyet ülkesine saldırması, Batı ile süregiden gerginliği, doğrudan bir çatışmaya dönüştürmüştür. Bu noktada, makale temel olarak, Rusya’nın, gerçekleştirdiği Ukrayna saldırısının hegemonik söylem temeline ontolojik güvenliğinin önemli bir sacayağı olan “anti batıcı”lığı yerleştirdiğini ve söz konusu saldırının, bir yere kadar anti batıcı söylemi güçlendirse de Rusya’nın ontolojik güvenliğinin diğer biyografik anlatılarına ve rutinlerine zarar verdiğini öne sürmektedir. Kısaca makale, Rusya’nın Ukrayna işgalinin tarihsel gelişimini, bu gelişimin somut adımlarının ötesinde bu tür bir saldırgan tutumun Rusya’nın özellikle ontolojik güvenliğinin biyografik anlatıları ve rutinleri bakımından ne tür tehlikeler yarattığını ele almaktadır. Bu çerçevede makale Rusya’nın ontolojik güvenliğinin biyografik anlatılarının ve rutinlerinin günümüzde “sürekli devlet”, “güçlü devlet, “egemen demokrasi”, “anti-batıcı” ve “ anti-küresel” söylem ve “neo-avrasyacı” söylemlere dayandığını öne sürmektedir.

Keywords

• Rusya
• Ukrayna Krizi
• Saldırgan Realizm
• Ontolojik Güvenlik
• Neo Avrasyacılık

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