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PONARS Eurasia
PONARS Eurasia
  • About
    • Contact
    • List of Members
    • Ukraine Experts
    • About Membership
    • Executive Committee
  • Policy Memos
    • List of Policy Memos
    • Submissions
  • Podcast
  • Online Academy
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    • Past Events
  • Recommended
  • Ukraine Experts
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RECOMMENDED
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RSS PONARS Eurasia Podcast
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New Policy Memo: The Kremlin’s Compulsion for Whataboutisms

  • June 14, 2013
  • Serghei Golunov

From time to time, Russian authorities appeal to Western experience for different reasons. While they sometimes do this to signal the need to adopt advanced managerial or other best practices, in many cases they employ such references to neutralize Western criticism and justify undemocratic (and unpopular) moves by pointing to the West’s own imperfections. In 2008, the Economist labeled this tactic whataboutism, and it has become one of Vladimir Putin’s favorite rhetorical devices (alongside his denial of a leading role in initiating non-democratic or repressive measures against his opponents). In what ways have references to Western practices been used in Russian pro-governmental rhetoric during the post-Soviet period? What are the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of such moves? How has the West responded to whataboutist Russian claims? These are the key questions this memo addresses.

The Kremlin’s Compulsion for Whataboutisms: Western Experience in the Putin Regime’s Political Rhetoric

PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo No. 252

by Serghei Golunov

June 2013

View the Policy Memo (PDF)

Serghei Golunov
Website | + posts
Lead Researcher, Peace and Conflict Studies
Affiliation

Institute of World Economy & International Relations (IMEMO), Moscow
Links

IMEMO, Moscow (Bio)
Expertise

Security, Migration, Higher Education, EU, Borders
  • Serghei Golunov
    https://www.ponarseurasia.org/members/serghei-golunov/
    Тема внешнего вмешательства в российской и американской внутренней политике: Теории заговора и зеркальные обвинения оппонента
  • Serghei Golunov
    https://www.ponarseurasia.org/members/serghei-golunov/
    External Interference Narratives in Russian and U.S. Politics: Conspiracy Theorizing Meets Whataboutism
  • Serghei Golunov
    https://www.ponarseurasia.org/members/serghei-golunov/
    Приграничное сотрудничество между Россией и ЕС живо
  • Serghei Golunov
    https://www.ponarseurasia.org/members/serghei-golunov/
    NEW POLICY MEMO: Not All Is Lost in Russian-EU Cross-Border Cooperation | S. Golunov
Related Topics
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  • U.S.-Russian Relations
Previous Article
  • Policy Memos | Аналитика

The Kremlin’s Compulsion for Whataboutisms: Western Experience in the Putin Regime’s Political Rhetoric

  • June 14, 2013
  • Serghei Golunov
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  • Policy Memos | Аналитика

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