Riabova T. B., Riabov D. O. Family and religious values as a “soft power” resource: discussions in contemporary Russian and Western mass media, P. 17-32


The paper deals with problem of employing the representations of gender relations as a “soft power” resource in international arena. The authors examine how contemporary media discuss the issues whether the image of Russia as a bulwark of traditional values can be used as Russian “soft power” resource in the international arena. The image of Russia as the guardian of family and religious values plays a noticeable role in Russia’s identity politics. At the same time it meets criticism which points out that the idea of restoration of the traditional values, first, is archaic and aimed against gender equality and, second, serves as an element of propaganda and features as a part of the “proxy war” that Russia wages against the West.
read in PDF>>>