Elite Political Culture and Illiberalism in Wartime Russia

Abstract

While a general ideological shift toward illiberalism has been noted in Russia for over a decade, recent developmentssuggest an increasingly deep, pervasive, and comprehensive use of illiberal rhetoric and framings byRussian elites. Policy discussions, which could once be held in a neutral or technocratic register, are increasinglysuffused with illiberal legitimating and justifying language, which suggests the further integration ofilliberal ideology into the worldviews of a broader cohort of Russian public figures, intellectuals, and loyalistprofessionals. The case of a recent public debate surrounding nuclear use policy gives rise to useful observationsthat underline this development.