Publication

This paper examines the growing conservatism in Russian political discourse. According to the author, four cumulative factors explain this turn towards conservatism: 1) ideas (e.g. revitalization of traditions and morality); 2) domestic politics (e.g. power consolidation); 3) the individual (e.g. Putin’s self-perception); and 4) the external stimuli (e.g. the “color revolutions” in Russia’s neighborhood). The author further contends that this trend poses a normative challenge to the EU, requiring a powerful answer based on a renewed long-term strategy towards Russia.