Russia and the United States as Constitutive Others in the National Identity Discourses

Abstract

This article explores the imagological foundations of the ongoing confrontation between the United States and Russia. Utilizing a historiographical review of US–Russia relations and the author’s extensive research, it employs a constructivist approach to examine the enduring patterns in their mutual representations. The analysis uncovers the cyclical nature of these perceptions, swinging between value-driven and pragmatic narratives. It suggests that throughout history, the US and Russia have consistently served as each other’s “constitutive Other” within their identity discourses. This involves the creation of meaning repertoires that align with their domestic and foreign policy goals. Moreover, the article argues that the current confrontation mirrors a clash between their respective value systems and messianic ambitions. This dynamic contributes to the development of a new kind of imagined reality, reinforcing the enduring dichotomous worldview that defines the relationship between the two nations.

Keywords

• russian-american relations
• identity
• constructivism
• imagology
• the constitutive other
• national exclusiveness