Imagining Ukraine in the Atlantic Community: An Analysis of Zelensky’s Speeches
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2023-07-03
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en
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Russia started a full-blown invasion of Ukraine on the night of the 24th of February 2022. Ukrainians have valiantly fought on the battlefield to defend their home country from day one onwards. This war, however, is not only fought with traditional weapons but also with words. Both Russia and Ukraine try to control the narrative of the war. Ukraine has employed a complex international communication strategy to try and win over the hearts and minds of the foreign public in an attempt to accumulate more reputational security for Ukraine. As the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has the ability to contribute to this strategy as well. This thesis consists of a discourse analysis of Zelensky’s speeches between March 8th, 2022, and May 8th, 2023, directed at countries and institutions that represent the Atlantic community. The goal of this thesis is to find out how Zelensky positioned Ukraine in his speeches in an attempt to accumulate more reputational security for Ukraine. The findings reveal which strategies Zelensky employed to achieve this purpose. It was found that Zelensky attempted to appeal to an imagined community rooted in a community of values during his speeches. Most of his efforts were, however, directed at the European community rather than the Atlantic community, which was an unexpected outcome.
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