Manufacturing resilience: An analysis of broadcast and Web-based news presentations of the 2014–2015 Russian economic downturn

Abstract

This study aims to better understand how various Russian news outlets present stories pertaining to Russia’s recent economic downturn and future economic outlook. This study analysed over 1500 Russian broadcast TV and online news stories. Among its major findings are the following: (1) calls for Russia to diversify its economy by accelerating trade agreements and cooperation with Eurasian Economic Union and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations, (2) presenting China as critical to Russia’s economic future, (3) presenting Russia’s economy as strong due to natural resources and (4) framing the United States negatively by calling for strategies to counter Western economic sanctions. Strategic and policy implications are discussed at length.

Resurrection of the Russian Orthodox Church: Narrative of Analysis of the Russian National Myth*

“…Rather than a discussion of democracy being about abstract freedoms or political values, the scope of what democracy is, or should be, is altered to a conversation on one's own ability to attain economic freedom within the system. As noted in research by Cooley and Stokes (), upon which this research builds, economic viability became the cornerstone narrative justifying and legitimizing the Russian regime (Cooley and Stokes, ). The popularity of Putin and the survival of his regime in the face of Western democratic influences have relied on the ability to bring tangible economic gains home for Russian citizens (Machalek, ) and to control the conversation on what a democracy should be doing for its citizens.…”

“…most importantly, I'll repeat, a substantial increase in society's well‐being” (RFE/RL, 2004). Cooley and Stokes () note the Russian state provided citizens with a national myth justifying limited political freedoms by narrowing the available narratives on democracy to that of fairness, economic strength, and a sense of national pride (Cooley and Stokes, ).…”

“…Cooley and Stokes () demonstrated that the Russian regime used state‐owned media to explain the economic decline by establishing a narrative framework of resilience. The framework acknowledges that a global economic crisis exists, but assigns blame for the economic crisis to the United States, European Union, and intentional policies by the West to keep Russia marginalized.…”

“…The framework acknowledges that a global economic crisis exists, but assigns blame for the economic crisis to the United States, European Union, and intentional policies by the West to keep Russia marginalized. The framework portrays Russia as a nation of strong people with enough resources and proactive thinkers to overcome the economic obstacles and create a new global economic order (Cooley and Stokes, ). This narrative framework of resilience bought the Russian regime time to either recover economic strength (and preserve the legitimizing national myth of managed democracy tied to economic strength) or to craft a new national myth to relegitimize the state.…”

“…Putin's managed democracy has long been legitimized by narrative discourse on the Russian economy (Cooley and Stokes, ). However, recent failures to the economy have damaged the foundation of Putin's legitimacy and left the regime scrambling to find new ways to legitimize its rule.…”