The Russian Invasion in the Context of Post-Bolotnaya Authoritarian Consolidation

Abstract

The Russian invasion of Ukraine came as a shock to many observers, including the author of this article. In terms of domestic political dynamics, the invasion is inscribed in - and has drastically intensified - the logic of post-Bolotnaya authoritarian consolidation, as notably seen in the performative staging of Vladimir Putin's decision to invade as a response to demands supposedly present in wider society. A key part of this is the co-optation of the Greater Russia nationalism, represented by the likes of Igor Strelkov, as a driving force behind the 2014 Russian intervention in the Donbas.