Russophobia: Discursive Manipulation as a foreign policy tool

Focus: Examines how the “Russophobe” label is constructed and used as a discursive tool in Russian foreign policy to marginalise targeted states.

Description: This project examines the construction and utilisation of Russophobia as a tool of Russian foreign policy, focusing on its role in shaping perceptions and influencing policy discourse in the Europe’s Eastern periphery. Commonly attributed to certain nations, particularly those on the eastern periphery, the label of “Russophobe” implies a visible and negative bias against Russia’s intentions and actions. This stigma creates challenges for these nations in advancing their perspectives on effective policies towards Russia, marginalising their voices in broader international debates. The project seeks to analyse how the “Russophobe” label is constructed within the official foreign policy discourse of both Russia and the targeted nations, exploring whether intersubjective criteria exist amongst European countries for designating “Russophobia.” Additionally, the project will investigate the content of this discourse, its contribution to international polarization, and the strategies employed by Russia to create and sustain this narrative.

Application details and procedures can be found here:

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