CBEES Advanced Seminar with Bo Petersson, Professor of Political Science and IMER (International Migration and Ethnic Relations) at Malmö University

Speaker: Bo Petersson, Professor of Political Science and IMER (International Migration and Ethnic Relations) at Malmö University, and Director of the research platform Russia and the Caucasus Regional Research (RUCARR)

Discussant: Mark Bassin, Professor in History of Ideas, CBEES, Södertörn University

Chair: Olena Podolian, PhD in Political Science, affiliated Research Assistant at CBEES

Abstract:
Using the Russian president’s major public addresses as the main source, Bo Petersson analyzes the legitimization strategies employed during Vladimir Putin’s third and fourth terms in office. The argument is that these strategies have rested on Putin’s highly personalized blend of strongman-image projection and presentation as the embodiment of Russia’s great power myth. Putin appears as the only credible guarantor against renewed weakness, political chaos, and interference from abroad—in particular from the US.
After a first deep crisis of legitimacy manifested itself by the massive protests in 2011–2012, the annexation of Crimea led to a lengthy boost in Putin’s popularity figures. The book discusses how the Crimea effect is, by 2021, trailing off and Putin’s charismatic authority is increasingly questioned by opposition from Alexei Navalny, the effects of unpopular reforms, and poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, Russia is bound to head for a succession crisis as the legitimacy of the political system continues to be built on Putin’s projected personal characteristics and—now apparently waning—charisma, and since no potential heir apparent has been allowed on center stage. The constitutional reform of summer 2020 made it possible in theory for Putin to continue as president until 2036. Yet, this change did not address the Russian political system’s fundamental future leadership dilemma.

About the speaker:
Bo Petersson is Professor of Political Science and IMER (International Migration and Ethnic Relations) at Malmö University, Sweden, where he is also Director of the research platform Russia and the Caucasus Regional Research (RUCARR). His special areas of interest include legitimacy, authoritarianism, national identity and political myth. Geographically he has often specialised in political developments in Russia and the former Soviet Union. He is the author of The Putin Predicament: Problems of Legitimacy and Succession in Russia (Ibidem Press, 2021) National Self-Images and Regional Identities in Russia (Ashgate 2001, Routledge 2018) and Stories about Strangers (UP of America, 2006). Among his other most recent publications are Berglund, Christofer; Katrine Gotfredsen, Jean Hudson and Bo Petersson (eds): Language and Society in the Caucasus: Understanding the Past, Navigating the Present. Malmö: Universus 2021), “Nationalism and greatness: Russia under the Putin presidencies”, in Liah Greenfeld & Zeying Wu (eds): Research Handbook of Nationalism (Edward Elgar, 2020) and articles in journals such as Demokratizatsiya, East European Politics, Europe-Asia Studies, International Journal of Cultural Studies, Nordeuropa Forum, Nordisk Östforum, Post-Soviet Affairs, Sport in Society, and Problems of Post-Communism. He is a board member of The Swedish Society for the Study of Russia, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Swedish Network for European Studies in Political Science, editorial board member of the journals Communist and Post-Communist Studies, Nordisk Östforum, Public Policy (S:t Petersburg) and is chair of the editorial board at Malmö University Press.

Join the seminar on campus: MA 796

Or via ZOOM:
https://sh-se.zoom.us/j/69021931394?pwd=MnVjNnI1WGV3OHIrNHBYNzljVFFzQT09
Meeting ID: 690 2193 1394
Passcode: 104483