"Russian Insecurity in the Western Perception: from 19th-century 'Geopolitics' to the Putin-Stalin Analogy"

Abstract

The Western debate has extensively discussed on the concept of Russian insecurity, as several authors and analysts have investigated the reasons behind this phenomenon. The interpretations that have been set forward cover a wide range of themes, from geopolitical causes to psycho-cultural reasons. The following dissertation examines the trajectory of the western interpretation of Russian insecurity, which many authors and analysts have equated with the aggressive stance held by several Russian leaders, Stalin in particular. His domestic and foreign policy will be hence analyzed through the work of authors claiming that security considerations particularly influenced his political posture. The same methodology will be applied with respect to Putin’s rule, analyzing the works that address the theme. Finally, a comparative analysis of the contemporary parallel between Stalin and Putin will be proposed, with the aim of understanding what features of their rules justify the analogy. The choice of focusing on the rules of Stalin and Putin lies in the fact that the two strongmen provide, according to some, the clearest example of pragmatic politicians that Russian history has to offer. Indeed, the parallel between them is not new in the literature, and the final chapter will analyze the works that propose this resemblance.