Academic and popular interest in Russia’s ‘compatriot protection’ surged after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Fears of ‘Crimea’ constituting a precedent rather than an isolated case were...Show moreAcademic and popular interest in Russia’s ‘compatriot protection’ surged after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Fears of ‘Crimea’ constituting a precedent rather than an isolated case were common, with journalists and scholars going to lengths as to which post-Soviet republic with a sizeable Russian-speaking population would be the next ‘domino’ in the ‘domino effect’ that Crimea was argued to bring about. Much has been written about Russia’s ‘compatriot protection’ since, but much less has been written about the factors favorable to the hypothesized replication of ‘Crimea’ for individual cases such as Belarus. By transforming Laruelle’s study of Russian secessionism in Kazakhstan into a more broadly applicable analytical framework, this thesis ultimately suggests that the conditions in Belarus – the lack of focus of ‘compatriot issues’ in Russia-Belarus relations, the difficulty of delineating a ‘Russian part’ of Belarus and its population, and the lack of a grassroots organizational framework – are ultimately unfavorable to Russian-sponsored secessionism.Show less
By strengthening linkages with post-Soviet countries and by constructing a wide range of soft-power tools, Russia has tried to block Western influence in the post-Soviet space. The aim of this...Show moreBy strengthening linkages with post-Soviet countries and by constructing a wide range of soft-power tools, Russia has tried to block Western influence in the post-Soviet space. The aim of this thesis is to research how the Russian state and the Russian Orthodox Church are working together to create Orthodox linkages in the post-Soviet state of Moldova, and how they are using Orthodox concepts to promote an Orthodox identity.Show less
