Comparison of narratives and Arctic Russian strategies

Even these poems and songs are constituted in the current foreign policy of Russia because of the narrative's collectively remembered history. Thus, the Kremlin misused it to win people's hearts and supporters of Russian operations and strategies in the Arctic. Every strategy is given a different emphasis on specific features of the chosen narratives. However, every one of them has derived incentives in the field of defense, foreign enemies, and discoveries.

The part of the strategies related to defending and protecting the Arctic is findable in the March of the Happy-Go-Lucky Guys song. Especially in the lines saying that the battle starts only because of the enemy's initiative (villains) and that Russians (heroes) will be joining the battle and defend their motherland if the Kremlin commands. It is included in every analysed strategy.

However, it is primarily seen in the Basic Principles 2035. Kremlin drew an analogy between the heroes and troops (more precisely, the Coast guard) with their readiness to fight with anyone who would use aggression towards the RF.

In this spirit, the strategies deal with the concept of foreigners. It applies to the Tale of the Pole.

The folktale says that many foreigners will come to the Arctic and would have wanted the same as Russia has. But as the folktale and strategies say, Russia has the wisdom, power, and people perceived as heroes to shape the region. Furthermore, strategies are evidence of a historical connection. As the folktale shows the during the Soviet era, polar aviation was a crucial part of the then social and political life. Up to the present, the political importance has not changed.

Russia extends the number of airports, aviation, utilization of Polar air routes, air space intelligence, and more others.

Even nature, which is a theme of the poem Arctic illness, is, to some extent, related to these strategies. To be precise, to the Basic Principles 2020 and the Development strategy of the AZRF 2013. These two contain the same or at least similar descriptions of local nature. Such as the Arctic being surrounded by its uniqueness, extreme conditions, strong winds, and iciness.

Lastly, there are two interconnections. Firstly, their enthusiasm for exploration and discovery is displayed in the March of the Happy-Go-Lucky guys as well in Tale of the Pole. It was passed on during the time and mirrored in every Arctic strategy through scientific researches, construction of new bases, developments of new techniques, monitoring of local fauna or flora, and many others primarily contained in the Development strategy of the AZRF 2013. Secondly,

56

at that time, the Soviet Union had Joseph Stalin as a direction setter. Tale of the Pole and March of the Happy-Go-Lucky Guys (on condition that "country" in the poem stands for a deduction of Stalin) are excellent examples. Strategies contain a strong leader, as well as analysed narratives, do. It is possible to include President Medvedev, but President Putin is much more relevant than in the two latest strategies, where he shows his power and presence. Stalin was referring to the pilots as Brave Eagles bringing the Arctic to light. In contrast, President Putin has been doing the same through the overall developments and his actions done in the Arctic.

Moreover, President Putin´s Arctic policy also included one specific action and character. The Arctic hero holds Artur Chilingarov, well-known for countless polar explorations. Chilingarov already in 2003 declared the Arctic as Russian´s on his polar expeditions about 150km from the North Pole. It is said that he fired from his pistol and said one of his famous speeches: "This is our Arctic, this is the Russian Arctic, and the Russian flag should be here."²⁰⁵ He had been considered an Arctic hero of the Soviet Union. However, only four years later, he was reasserted to bet the Russian one as well. As a brave eagle with the polar expedition planted the Russian flag on the seabed of the Arctic ocean. To propagate his heroism, his persona acts nationwide Russia projected it live through TV.²⁰⁶ During the live broadcast, Chilingarov sent to the world and Russian citizens a legacy, which says that: "The High North is Russian. We will not give it to anybody!"²⁰⁷ His fame has significantly risen after that.²⁰⁸ The similarity with the folktale Tale of the Pole is obvious. The explorers, primarily Chilingarov, were the brave eagles in this event. And as the polar pilots were the ones, who were the first to fly to the cold unknown and being unfearful because of their wisdom, knowledge, and Russianness. In the folktale, Stalin was the one who was praising the pilots.

Although Putin congratulated them only through phone, his successor President Medvedev awarded three of them, including Chilingarov, with medals and titles instantly in 2008 of the

205 REICH, Simon a Peter DOMBROWSKI, 2017. The End of Grand Strategy [online]. Cornell University Press.

ISBN 978-1-5017-1463-4.

206 HOWARD, R., 2009. The Arctic Gold Rush: The New Race for Tomorrow’s Natural Resources [online].

Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4411-0216-4.

207 JANJGAVA, Nikoloz, 2012. Disputes in the Arctic. Connections. 11(3), 95–101. ISSN 18121098, 18122973.

208 TRUMP, B.D., K. HOSSAIN a I. LINKOV, 2020. Cybersecurity and Resilience in the Arctic [online]. IOS Press. ISBN 978-1-64368-077-4.

57

Heroes of the RF.²⁰⁹ By all means, Russia justified these acts by their interconnection with their Arctic history, national identity, and Russianness. President Medvedev expressed it by his speech, where he strongly expressed their urgency of implementing and securing the Arctic national interests their duty. And this duty was to pay a debt to the people who have gone there before them and sacrificed themselves for Russia. In this statement, he took upon the Soviet Arctic history.²¹⁰

Within the finalising the analysis, the complex comparison and summarisation are on the spot.

The first table (see Table 7) encapsulate the attributes of narratives and strategies related to Russia's presumptive power. The military dimension is presented in every analysed component except in the Arctic Illness, which deals with the Arctic nature and Northerness. The Tale of the Pole is not straightforwardly military. However, with surmising, folktale shows that the Soviets already shaped the military dimension by flyings over the Arctic. As a follow-up to the Arctic pilots, each strategy states crucial, either having either an air fleet or control over the Arctic air space. The military paradigm is also findable in the chosen song. Yet, this song has clear, strong combatant rhetoric and sense compared to the previous one. The March of Happy-Go-Lucky Guys explains what the Soviets would have done if someone would take the Arctic (their living joy) from them. To be more accurate, they would protect the Arctic anyhow before any enemy to not let it happen. The same indication is distinguishable in Russian Arctic strategies. Each strategy interprets the same approach as the given song. Thus, the Russian would defend the Arctic no matter the cost, and besides, it is crucial to have these forces – Coast guard (heroes) in the region. As the March of the Happy-Go-Lucky Guys shows the readiness for a fight, the same illustrates the Development strategy of the AZRF 2013. These calls for readiness were subsequently included in the Basic Principles 2035.

It was not usual during the Soviet era to include economic and soft power aspects into the narratives. Thus there is no interconnection between to examine, unlike the Arctic strategies.

The most significant economic topics are economic development generally, NSR, explorations, and exploitations. The significance of the NSR is given due to its transport, shipping, and navigation utilization. It simply shows the RF's power over the other Arctic states and part of Arctic waters. The resource exploitations are the consequence of successful Arctic explorations.

209 TENNBERG, M., H. LEMPINEN a S. PIRNES, 2019. Resources, Social and Cultural Sustainabilities in the Arctic [online]. Taylor & Francis. Routledge Research in Polar Regions. ISBN 978-0-429-61453-8.

210 HØNNELAND, Geir, 2015. Russia and the Arctic: Environment, Identity and Foreign Policy. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85772-746-6.

58

More precisely, hydrocarbon resources are a decisive economic factor of Russian present and future status in the international community.

The foreign policy, in this case, Arctic strategies, is itself a soft power tool. However, the strategies have not changed much during these years, as shown in Table 7. Each strategy interprets the ambition of supporting indigenous people within the Arctic and stronger and deeper cooperation between Russia and the rest of the Arctic states, which may be reached cooperation predominantly within the AC. The Development strategy of the AZRF 2013 and Basic Principles 2035 also stresses the importance of promoting science, technology in the Arctic region to, for instance, address local environmental issues. Notwithstanding, the strongest soft power tendencies are notably in the first adopted Arctic strategy, Basic Principles 2020. Only the Basic Principles 2020 touches topics such as creating a positive image of Russia and organization of exhibitions and conferences devoted to the history related to the Arctic Soviet/Russian explorers. And in addition also the involvement of mass media to accentuate the Arctic matter. The only one example used soft power in the narratives, is the attraction showed in the poem Arctic Illness.

The second table (see Table 8) summarizes basic elements and analysed narratives and Russian Arctic strategies. The first analogy is between the plot aspect, narratives, and strategies. First of all, the Tale of the Pole is more about the pure discovering and the following conquering of the Arctic, which is interpreted by quest plot. Whereas in the March of the Happy-Go-Lucky Guys, the Arctic is already seen undoubtedly as Soviets/Russian. The overcoming monster plot here shows that if they had to save the Arctic, they would have to battle someone to do so. Since then, the same idea occurs in each strategy. The Basic Principles 2020 were within this area more subtle. However, the plot of it was analogous, Russia to stay a leading Arctic power. The follow-up Development strategy deals with developing the defense and military rather than combating itself. Although the Development strategy is supposed to be only about development, the plot here forms the Russian sovereignty and governing over the Arctic (strictly speaking AZRF). The Basic Principles 2035 extends the previous Basic Principles 2020. It shows the strongest rhetoric about defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the AZRF. Yet, it emphasises strongly on peaceful negotiation and cooperation. Contrarily, the Arctic Illness differs entirely from the others by its tragic, innocent devotion to the Arctic with no other intention than to belong to each other. Furthermore, the poem's purpose is to show the interconnection of the Arctic and the national identity of Russia.

59

It worth to mention that the Soviet Union or the RF have not been portrayed as a villain in any narrative and strategy. It was either the victim or the hero. Within the Tale of the Pole, Stalin only plays a strong leadership role, and the heroes are the Soviet pilots, ordinary men. That same heroism shows the March of the Happy-Go-Lucky Guys, where ordinary men would sacrifice themselves as heroes for the Arctic as part of their motherland. The strategies always include the AZRF (which is considered an object), the RF, and foreign states.

The RF stands mainly for distinct roles. Yet, at some point, it tends to be a hero character, which is caused by its defensive approach of its territory against other actors. The most significant changes are in the role of President Putin and the RF. President Putin presents as the character together with the RF in the Development strategy of the AZRF 2013. In contrast, in the Basic Principles 2035, he has his single role of the hero, who takes full responsibility for strategy implementation and national security. On the other hand, the RF has even a victim's position due to the aggressive acts of foreign actors towards the RF.

The foreign actors represent the villain role in every category, except the Arctic Illness and the Development strategy of the AZRF 2013 (because of the focus on development). The foreign actors or other Arctic states present a threat and as initiators of aggressive acts and conflicts.

The Arctic Illness differs again considering the rest. The Arctic is here a non-human character with personality traits and no specific role. Secondly, a man is presented as a victim because of his desperate attachment to the Arctic and its essence.

The third-person point of view is present in the majority, precisely speaking in the Tale of the Pole, Basic Principles 2020, the Development strategy of the AZRF 2013, and Basic Principles 2035. The rest of the authors shows from a first-person perspective. The author of the Tale of the Pole imparts pro-Soviets beliefs and superiority over the Arctic. Pro-Russian third-person works show the ambitions of Russia to master the Arctic and their willingness to shield it in any way. The same says the March of the Happy-Go-Lucky Guys song with its decisive fighting rhetoric. Lastly, the author of Arctic Illness explains how strong symbiosis between the Arctic, Russians, and Northern Russianness is.

60

Table 7. Comparision of the Russian presumptive power, given narratives and foreign policy

Folktale

Basic Principles 2020 Development strategy of the AZRF 2013

Not identified To grasp the Arctic and be ready to fight for it

Not identified Not identified Not identified Transportation, navigation and shipping through the

Explorations and exploitations of resources

Promotion of science, technology and AC

Cooperation

Support of indigenous people within the Arctic

Even strategy itself is a tool of soft power

Cooperation

Promotion of science, technology and AC

Support of indigenous people within the Arctic

61

Table 8. Comparision of the narrative basic elements, given narratives and foreign policy

Folktale

Basic Principles 2020 Development strategy of the AZRF 2013

Sovereignty and governing over the AZRF take precedence over everything.

Sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace over the AZRF take precedence over everything

Character Stalin, does not have a specific role and is taken more as an object.

Other Arctic states are represented here as partners (with no specific role) and antagonists holding the villain role.

The Arctic Federation (President Putin) acts in the strategy of a hero to master the Arctic through development in many fields.

The AZRF does not have a specific role as well as is portrayed more as an object.

The RF is portrayed as a hero as well as a victim. It is caused by their simultaneous hero and victim approach by defending the Arctic in military ways and showing the inappropriate actions of foreign and Arctic states.

President Putin as a hero, who takes full responsibility of the strategy's implementation.

Foreign and Arctic states serve as villains here because of their operations in the Arctic and their attempts to undermine Russian Arctic influence and activity.

The AZRF does not have a specific role and is portrayed more as an object

Point of third-person point of view and showed the strong will of Russia to achieve their goals and protect their national interests and security with all their might.

The author wrote it with a pro-Russian third-person perspective and showed the most substantial resistance to the foreign and Arctic states since issuing the first strategy.

Nevertheless, the author showed their determination to protect what is legally theirs at all costs.

62 Conclusion

The RF as a state actor represents its national interests, goals, foreign policy, power, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Russian territory expands to the Arctic region, which makes Russia the Arctic state. In fact, because of the great expanse located in that region, Russia is considered to be the biggest Arctic state with the highest number of inhabitants living there locally.

However, Russia's position in the Arctic is defined more by local influence and control over the region with its hard power and soft power. Russia has been practicing hard power on a higher level since 2007 when the Russian flag was unlawfully planted on the sea bottom of the Arctic Ocean and started overflying over the Arctic. The trend continued by establishing the Northern Fleet called the Coast Guard in 2014 to guard and protect the Russian Arctic territory. The Russian hard power is also represented by their number of military bases situated in the AZRF, which is the highest among all Arctic states. For certainty of being precedent in the military Arctic dimension, the RF invests the most into the military sphere, vessels, and modernization from all Arctic states to assure its national security and peace within the Arctic.

The Russian economy is deeply connected and dependent on Arctic resources, primarily hydrocarbon ones. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation states that the Russian oil and gas industry interconnected with the Arctic generates about 40% of annual revenue and 20% of total GDP. Russia takes from the Arctic but also gives in the form of contribution.

Precisely speaking, Russia contributes about two-thirds, resulting in Russia being one of the most significant contributors within the area. To master the Artic from another economic perspective, Russia utilizes its arctic waters for transporting, shipping, and navigating vessels through the NSR, which is primarily cost and time-saving. One on hand, the rest of the international community claims given waters are international.

In contrast, Russia claims it’s the other way round and considers the passage as domestic waters with only their right to utilize it economically. Besides, to master the NSR, the RF requires a Russian pilot on every vessel. In the case of not approved transportation, Russia has the authority to arrest or even destruct a particular vessel.

Russia uses soft power in the region likewise. Firstly, Soviet Union belonged to one country, which actions, besides Finland and Canada, led to the establishment of the AC. Since then, Russia has been promoting the cooperation itself and within the organisation. It is about

63

promoting the support of indigenous people and facing and solving the environmental challenges (with its program of cleaning up the Arctic). However, the most crucial acts are issuing own Arctic strategies since 2008 and establishing the IAF, which operates as a forum for dialogues and deeper cooperation. No wonder that Russia is the leader, and every forum takes place in Russian cities. The last forum was held in 2019. As a part of an event was a plenary session discussing issues concerning Russia worldwide and its acts in the Arctic region.

Yet, the session showed the power and strong rhetoric of Russia performed by President Putin.

Based on the analysis and conclusion, the first part of the hypothesis is confirmed. Thus, the RF figures as the leading shaper in securitisation, economic development, and soft power dimension in the Arctic.

During the Soviet Era, the Arctic myth represented Arctic devotion and admiration, which Stalin strongly propagated through the soviet narratives. The analysed narratives were primarily written in the 1930s by pro-soviet authors. Firstly, the narratives mostly contain the heroic

During the Soviet Era, the Arctic myth represented Arctic devotion and admiration, which Stalin strongly propagated through the soviet narratives. The analysed narratives were primarily written in the 1930s by pro-soviet authors. Firstly, the narratives mostly contain the heroic

In document Hlavní práce73948_volj03.pdf, 1.1 MB Stáhnout (Stránka 56-101)