Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.59245/ps.32.4.1
Between Strategic Rationalism and Strategic Culture: Explaining the Causes of Russian Aggression Against Ukraine
Mirko Bilandžić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0532-9767
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Tihana Štimac
orcid.org/0009-0007-6617-8927
; Ekonomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Josip Pandžić
orcid.org/0000-0002-8265-9452
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
In this paper, the authors analyse the causes and goals of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Realist strategic rationalism and socially constructed strategic culture are used as theoretical-conceptual frameworks, while critical discourse analysis is the applied research method. In this paper, the key element of the security discourse as a social practice is his role in the construction of meaning. Namely, the meaning that Russia and the Russian establishment attribute to the Russo-Ukrainian relations, the Ukrainian nation, the independent state of Ukraine and the position of Ukraine regarding the Euro-Atlantic integration and the relation of Russia and West regarding Ukrainian endeavours towards the Euro-Atlantic integrations. As a primary unit of analysis, the authors used the essay of Russian President Vladimir Putin (2021) and his speeches (Putin, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022) from 2005 to 2022, and after that, the relevant scientific contributions in the role of secondary material. A summary analysis of discourses in constructing the meaning of a totality of Russo-Ukrainian relations and an explanation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine points to an attempt to justify the invasion at a security, geopolitical, strategic, legal, economic, religious-mythological, socio-cultural, moral and philosophical levels. However, the answer to the causes of Russian aggression on Ukraine cannot be found dominantly inside the frameworks of (realist) strategic rationalism but within the societally constructed strategic culture.
Keywords
Ukraine, Russia, war, strategic rationalism, strategic culture
Hrčak ID:
310190
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2023.
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