Redefining patriotism and belonging in illiberal Russia:Resilience and survival of othered groups

Abstract

This study advances the argument that contemporary Russian illiberalism can be characterised through immense societal polarisation, generating a language of ‘othering’ and equatinggroups with critical political attitudes as ‘agents of the West’ or ‘foreigners.’ In the nameof eradicating ‘amoral Western influence’ and shielding Russia from ‘foreign penetrationand propaganda’ that spreads immoral values, political control over ‘foreign’ groups and organisationshas intensified. In a similar vein, patriotism is increasingly equated with loyaltyto the Russian state. In this article, based on the example of LGBT organisations, I show howothered groups strive to (re-)define themselves as part of the Russian nation—as patrioticand socially useful members of society. Employing institutional, political and social strategies,groups such as pro-LGBT organisations try to resist being pushed outside of Russiansociety, and in the process prove their patriotism and rootedness