The Problem of Political Identity - The Meaning of Great Projects Politics in Contemporary Russia

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Social Constructivism and the Great Power Identity

1.1 Social constructivism and the great power as a customary discursive component in Russian and Soviet foreign policy making

1.2 The changing of the great power concept

1.3 Domestic great projects and historical politics as a compensation for the crisis of internationally recognized ‘greatpowerness’

Chapter 2: The Condition of Postcommunism and the Nature of the Great Projects Politics

2.1 ‘Bespredel’ and the ‘true end of history’: Russian politics in the 1990s

2.2 ‘Dictatorship of law’: Putinite era and the lack of political identity

2.3 Contemporary great projects and the ritual of being a great power

Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

This work examines the problem of political identity in contemporary Russia by extending the constructivist analysis of Ted Hopf through the lens of Sergei Prozorov’s theory of postcommunism. It aims to explain why the Russian state persists in its pursuit of "great power" status through domestic "great projects" despite the absence of a clear teleological political project.

• The construction of political identity in post-Soviet Russia.
• The role of "great power" identity as a discursive necessity in Russian society.
• Theoretical integration of constructivist IR theory with post-historical political theory.
• The function of "great projects" as domestic simulations of power in a post-communist state.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: This section introduces the research problem of Russia’s perceived revival and its persistent "great power" identity as viewed within constructivist IR theory.

Chapter 1: Social Constructivism and the Great Power Identity: This chapter explicates Ted Hopf’s constructivist framework, focusing on how societal self-understanding drives the discursive demand for "great power" status.

Chapter 2: The Condition of Postcommunism and the Nature of the Great Projects Politics: This chapter incorporates Sergei Prozorov’s theory to analyze how the "post-historical" condition of modern Russia necessitates the use of "great projects" as ritualistic substitutes for actual political teleology.

Conclusion: This section synthesizes the findings, arguing that domestic "great projects" serve as a simulation of power when actual international "great power" status is unattainable due to the lack of a clear teleological project.

Keywords

Political Identity, Russia, Social Constructivism, Great Power, Ted Hopf, Sergei Prozorov, Postcommunism, Great Projects, Historical Politics, Bespredel, Cratocracy, State of Exception, Discourse Analysis, Sovereignty, Teleology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The work investigates how contemporary Russia maintains a "great power" identity in its domestic political discourse despite lacking a clear international status and a teleological developmental project.

What are the central themes discussed in the work?

Key themes include the construction of political identity, the concept of the "great power," the impact of post-Soviet social conditions on political behavior, and the use of large-scale infrastructure projects to simulate greatness.

What is the primary research question?

The research asks what the true meaning of the "great projects politics" is in contemporary Russia and how these projects function within a state that has suspended its historical and ideological trajectory.

Which scientific methodology is used?

The author uses a constructivist approach to discourse analysis, synthesizing the theoretical frameworks of Ted Hopf (on identity and foreign policy) and Sergei Prozorov (on the post-communist condition and the "end of history").

What is covered in the main body of the work?

The body analyzes the interplay between domestic social identity and international norms, the historical development of Russian political thought, and a specific case study of the "Okhta-Centre" construction in St. Petersburg.

Which keywords define this work?

The most important terms include Political Identity, Constructivism, Great Power, Postcommunism, and Cratocracy.

How does the author interpret the term "bespredel"?

The author, drawing on Prozorov, defines "bespredel" as a state of limitlessness or a breakdown of the framework where legal and illegal can be distinguished, characterizing the socio-economic chaos of the 1990s.

What is the significance of the "Okhta-Centre" case study?

The "Okhta-Centre" project serves as a practical example where the rhetorical justification for the construction reveals a discursive demand for "great power" status, while simultaneously highlighting the lack of a meaningful long-term developmental goal.

What is "cratocracy" in this context?

Cratocracy is defined as a regime where power exists for its own sake, devoid of ideological content, and relies on formalized rituals to maintain a semblance of order amidst an ongoing state of exception.