Russia First: Putin’s Evolving Westphalian Conceptualization of State Sovereignty

Abstract

By far the most frequent concept that appears in the speeches and writings of Vladimir Putin, “sovereignty” has served varying rhetorical purposes over the years that he has been in office, focusing at times on his domestic audience and at times on Russia’s place in the world order. From the standpoint of international relations, he has placed primary emphasis on Russia’s resistance to external influences in a manner that closely resembles the Westphalian model.

In this study we trace the development of four different conceptions of sovereignty as manifested in Putin’s rhetoric. These are:

• The classic definition of sovereignty: border security, independence, and unquestioned authority in one’s domestic affairs
• Cultural identity, creativity, national dignity, and strength of the citizenry and the nation
• Rejection of all international intervention in Russian affairs of state—a Westphalian conceptualization opposed to supranationalism and “bloc” identity

●          Self-sufficiency economically and technologically