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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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The Relations Between the European Far-Right and the Russian Federation: A Social Constructivist Perspective

Translated title

Term

4. term

Publication year

2018

Submitted on

Pages

70

Abstract

This project explores the relation between the European far-right and the Russian Federation with a focus on the values and ideas that Vladislav Surkov’s sovereign democracy proposes. The study uses Alexander Wendt’s Social Constructivism as a theoretical reference point for the understanding of the role that sovereign democracy plays in the developing of relations between the Kremlin and Europe’s far-right around notions such as anti-globalism, the cult of the strong leader, traditional Christian-European values and centralization of political power. The study concludes the fact that by courting the European far-right in a rhetoric that highlights the ideas proposed in sovereign democracy, the Russian Federation is perceived as a symbol of anti-globalism and an alternative to the current political establishment in the European Union and the Transatlantic partnership, which on the one hand provides the Kremlin with influence over the political process in Europe, while on the other hand it just provides support for its domestic political governing style.