The Power of Words: How Russia's Authoritarian Regime Stays Strong

Ever wondered how some countries maintain their grip on power? Let's dive into how Russia's regime does it. French philosopher Jacques Rancière has a theory about this. He says that when people stop caring about politics, it's easier for authoritarian leaders to stay in control. This is what we call "depoliticization. " In Russia, under President Putin, this happens a lot. The government uses words and ideas to make people think politics isn't important. They do this by focusing on national and international issues at the same time. It's like they're saying, "Look over here, nothing to see here" when it comes to politics.

Rancière talks about something called "rifts. " These are like cracks in the political scene. But in Russia, these cracks get filled up by all the talk about national pride and international relations. This makes it hard for people to see the real political issues. So, how do we know this is happening? Researchers have been looking at Russia's official speeches and statements from 2015 to 2020. They found that a lot of the talk is about how great Russia is and how it's safe from outsiders. This makes people less interested in politics and more focused on being proud of their country. This isn't just about Russia, though. It's a warning for places where democracy is questioned. It shows how important it is for people to stay interested in politics. If they don't, leaders can use that to stay in power for a long time.

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