Marlene Laruelle Livres

L'eurasisme est l'une des principales idéologies russes. C'est une pensée totale, englobante, à la fois métaphysique et scientiste, politique et philosophique, qui veut résoudre définitivement les interrogations que les intellectuels russes ont sur leur identité. L'eurasisme cherche à légitimer l'Empire, sa dimension continentale et asiatique, à donner à la Russie une identité irréductible face à l'Europe, à définir une idéologie politique quasi-totalitaire et une pratique scientifique exclusivement " nationale ".

Using a wide range of sources, Marlene Laruelle discusses the impact of the ideology of Eurasianism on geopolitics, interior policy, foreign policy, and culturalist philosophy.

Focusing on Russia's Arctic strategy, this book delves into the implications of climate change, territorial disputes, and energy policy. It highlights how the melting polar ice is reshaping geopolitical dynamics, as nations vie for control and resources in this increasingly accessible region. Additionally, it addresses the domestic challenges Russia faces in navigating its ambitions in the Arctic.

A comprehensive study of nation-building in post-Soviet Central Asia. Committed to internationalism, Kazakhstan and other central Asian states nevertheless embrace classically nationalist conceptions of the nation-state. Their unabashed celebration of borders and citizenship challenges Western views of nationalism as a dying ideology transcended by cosmopolitanism. Drawing on twenty years of fieldwork, Central Peripheries reveals the origin of central Asian national consciousness in imaginary and ritualized efforts to grapple with the Soviet past. 

This work discusses the new conjunctions that have emerged between foreign policy events and politicized expressions of Russian nationalism since 2005. The war with Georgia, as well as conflicts with Ukraine and other East European countries over the memory of the Soviet Union, and the Russian interpretation of the 2005 French riots have all contributed to reinforcing narratives of Russia as a fortress against aggressive forces in the West and CIS. This narrative has found support both in state structures and among the larger public. It has been especially salient for some nationalist youth movements, including both pro-Kremlin organizations, such as Nashi, and the skinheads. These various actors each had their own specific agendas, employ different modes of public action, and receive unequal recognition from other segments of society. Yet many of them share their reading of certain foreign policy events with that of various state structures. These and related phenomena are thoroughly analyzed and contextualized in this book.

The book explores the complex factors shaping contemporary Russia, emphasizing its fears and insecurities in a post-Cold War context. It highlights the influence of historical transformations, territorial concerns, and economic challenges on both elites and citizens. The authors discuss Russia's struggle with its identity and international role, caught between isolationism and the revival of its messianic narrative. Through this analysis, readers gain insight into how these domestic issues impact Russia's foreign policy and its interactions with the West and neighboring countries.

The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between Russia's domestic and foreign policies, highlighting the nation's fears and challenges. It aims to enhance the American public's understanding of how these internal dynamics shape Russia's international behavior, which is crucial for comprehending U.S. policy and security implications. This timely exploration offers valuable insights into the complexities of Russia's geopolitical stance.

Nationalism is explored through diverse actors and ideologies, particularly in the context of Russia's national identity. The book delves into the perspectives of ultra-nationalist and far-right groups, examining how nationalism is employed in conflicts. Additionally, it investigates how opponents of Putin leverage nationalist sentiments, offering a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted role nationalism plays in contemporary Russian society.

The European Union in a Reconnecting Eurasia examines the full scope of EU interests in the South Caucasus and Central Asia and analyzes the broad outlines of EU engagement over the coming years.

The Russian nationalist idea, once marginal in the 1990s, has evolved into a dominant state ideology. The political landscape now promotes a discourse steeped in anti-Western sentiment and a belief that national unity is under threat from both external and internal adversaries. Nationalism has become a “politically correct” stance, permeating all major political parties, with nationalist and crypto-fascist factions gaining influence. The government supports this trend through patriotic education, anti-American foreign policy, new national holidays, a cult of the military, and references to Orthodoxy, while utilizing ultra-nationalist groups to shape public life. The media plays a pivotal role in spreading nationalist ideas, often exacerbating xenophobia, as most major outlets align with state interests, reinforcing nationalist discourse. This nationalist sentiment extends beyond politics and media, influencing cultural and academic spheres, where scholars often promote the notion of “Russian specificity.” Various academic disciplines, including history, sociology, and new fields like culturology and geopolitics, propagate ethnocentric views, the implications of which remain largely unexplored. The collection includes contributions from various authors discussing the complexities of Russian nationalism in contemporary society.