Ammon Cheskin | University of Glasgow (original) (raw)

Papers by Ammon Cheskin

Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 2022

We examine Area Studies scholarship (specifically Russian Studies), asking how scholars can achie... more We examine Area Studies scholarship (specifically Russian Studies), asking how scholars can achieve a more critically aware and reflexive approach to global knowledge. For us this is encapsulated in the idea of Relational Area Studies (RAS). RAS highlights the need to consider spaces "in here" (i.e. our own practices, existing beliefs, and power structures etc.) almost as much as the objects we study "out there".

Citizenship Studies, 2019

This paper critically interrogates the notion of ‘citizenship’ from the politically-charged persp... more This paper critically interrogates the notion of ‘citizenship’ from the politically-charged perspective of Russian speakers in Estonia. Drawing on a broad range of critical citizenship literatures, and ethnographic examples from the borderland city of Narva, we propose re- and de-centring citizenship away from universalising conceptions, towards a historically and culturally grounded horizontal perspective on citizenship. While cognisant of dominant, state-centric approaches in Estonia, we present citizenship as a process unfolding through individual, everyday practices of belonging. We demonstrate how Russian speakers, excluded from membership in the Estonian community, can still become members in many less-formal ways, through vibrant interaction with local space.

Europe-Asia Studies, 2019

This special issue investigates trends in how ‘Russian speakers’, located outside Russia, respond... more This special issue investigates trends in how ‘Russian speakers’, located outside Russia, respond to Russia’s kin-state policies and diasporising practices. We present a series of empirically grounded studies into the lived realities of Russophone communities and individuals across a number of former Soviet states.
In this essay, and indeed in the wider special issue that we introduce, we argue that there is genuine academic merit in the study of ‘Russian speakers’, despite acknowledging the potential for this group to be reified as a unit of analysis. Surveying developments in the former Soviet Union (FSU), we propose a framework that can help to study Russian speakers and Russian-speaking identities while simultaneously capturing the complexities of their diverse experiences. In order to do this, we draw upon the theoretical literature on borders and boundaries to explore contemporary identity dynamics among Russian speakers living outside Russia.

Communist and Post-Communist Studies, 2017

Russian soft power in Ukraine: a structural perspective In this article, I adopt a structural ap... more Russian soft power in Ukraine: a structural perspective

In this article, I adopt a structural approach to Russian soft power, switching focus from the supposed agent of power (Russia), towards the subjects of power (Ukrainians). I outline the applicability of this approach to empirical studies into soft power, demonstrating how soft power can be examined from bottom-up, discursively-focused perspectives.

The empirical analysis then traces how Ukrainians (do not) link their self-identities to discursive understanding of " Russia ". Reviewing recent insights into the relationship between soft power and affect, I argue that Ukrainians' cultural, historical and linguistic ties with Russia often lack necessary emotional force to generate meaningful soft power.

Much existing analysis of Russian state–society relations focuses on public, active forms of cont... more Much existing analysis of Russian state–society relations focuses on public, active forms of contention such as the “opposition” and protest movements. There is need for a more
holistic perspective which adds study of a range of overt, “co-opted”, and hidden forms of interaction to this focus on public contention. A theoretical and empirical basis for understanding state–society relations in today’s Russia involves broadening the concept of “contentious politics” to include models of “consentful” as well as “dissentful” contention. A diffused model of contentious politics can situate claim-making along the axes of consentful and dissentful motivations, and compliant and contentious behaviours.

Consommation, identité et intégration en Estonie et en Lettonie”, Hermes 77: 119-128

This chapter traces the evolving discourse of Russia’s compatriot policy within the context of th... more This chapter traces the evolving discourse of Russia’s compatriot policy within the context of the Ukraine crisis. Discourse analysis of Russia’s officially-sanctioned ‘Russian Century’ web portal is used to investigate how Russia currently attempts to conceptualise and utilise the ‘Russian diaspora’. It is argued that Russia seeks to build political ties with its compatriots abroad through a process of what is termed ‘Rossiisification’. The analysis shows that cultural, historical, and linguistic preferences are linked not only to Russian (russkii) ethnic identity, but also to a Russian (rossiiskii) political identity. Russia’s compatriot discourses are therefore designed to consolidate Russian identities around political preferences for the neo-traditional policies of Putin’s Russia. This results in the contradictory emergence of an ethnicised conception of civic Russian identity (rossiiskii etnos) that forms the basis of strategies to build concrete political ties with compatriots abroad.

Following a review of current scholarship on identity and integration patterns of Russian speaker... more Following a review of current scholarship on identity and integration patterns of Russian speakers in the Baltic states, this article proposes an analytical framework to help understand current trends. Rogers Brubaker’s widely-employed triadic nexus is expanded to demonstrate why a form of Russian-speaking identity has been emerging, but has failed to become fully consolidated, and why significant integration has occurred structurally but not identificationally. By enumerating the subfields of political, economic, and cultural ‘stances’ and ‘representations’ the model helps to understand the complicated integration processes of minority groups that possess complex relationships with ‘external homelands’, ‘nationalizing states’ and ‘international organizations’. Ultimately, it is argued that socio-economic factors largely reduce the capacity for a consolidated identity; political factors have a moderate tendency to reduce this capacity; while cultural factors generally increase the potential for a consolidated group identity.

"The literature on collective memories in the Baltic states often stresses the irreconcilable div... more "The literature on collective memories in the Baltic states often stresses the irreconcilable division between Russian and Baltic official interpretations of the Second World War. This paper seeks to challenge this popular notion of two polemic collective memories – “Latvian” and “Russian”. While there is evidence that Latvia's Russian-speakers are heavily influenced by Russian cultural and political discourses, I will argue that the actual positions taken up by Russian-speakers are more nuanced than a crude Latvian–Russian dichotomy would suggest.

Based on survey data collected at the site of the 2011 Victory Day celebrations in Riga, this paper points to the germane existence of a partial “democratization of history” among Latvia's Russian-speakers, typified by an increasing willingness to countenance and take stock of alternative views of history. Through an examination of the data it will be argued that such tentative steps towards a democratization of history are most visible among the younger cohort of Russian-speakers, whose collective memory-myths have been tempered by their dual habitation of the Latvian, as well as Russian, mythscapes. In order to more fully understand this process both bottom-up and top-down pressures will be examined."

Recent research on the acculturation strategies of Russian speakers in Latvia has demonstrated th... more Recent research on the acculturation strategies of Russian speakers in Latvia has demonstrated that there is a high level of support for integration (identifying with both Latvian and Russian cultures) compared to marginalization, separation, or assimilation. However, a number of researchers have also highlighted the negative impact of top-down narratives and discourses produced by the country's politicians and journalists. These discourses, it is argued, hamper the integration process by creating incompatible identity positions between ‘Russian-speakers’ and ‘Latvians’. Accordingly, this research turns to focus group interviews with Russian speakers in Latvia in order to uncover the nuances of their identity-forming processes, their relations with the respective Russian and Latvian states, and their acculturation strategies, which are commonly overlooked in top-down accounts. Based on the analysis of the qualitative data it will be argued that there is great potential for an integrated, yet culturally distinct Latvian-Russian identity in Latvia.

Based on media discourse analysis, this article addresses the construction of Russian-speaking id... more Based on media discourse analysis, this article addresses the construction of Russian-speaking identity in Latvia from a discourse-theoretical approach. Through a focus on the discursive elements of identity formation it will be argued that public projections of Russian-speaking identity are both a counter-reaction to, and a synthesis with, constructed ‘Latvian’, ‘Russian’ and ‘European’ identities and discourses. It will be shown that although Latvia's Russian-speaking identity is often constructed negatively, in opposition to the Latvian state and the Latvian ‘Other’, it is now increasingly premised upon an acceptance of various Latvian narratives and discourses which are enabling the emergence of a more positive Latvian–Russian identity.

Books by Ammon Cheskin

The political shocks of the 2014 Ukrainian crisis have been felt in many former Soviet countries,... more The political shocks of the 2014 Ukrainian crisis have been felt in many former Soviet countries, not least Latvia, where over 35% of the population are native Russian speakers. At a time when analysts and commentators are unsure about Russia’s future plans to intervene on behalf of their ‘compatriots’, this study provides a detailed political and cultural analysis of Russian-speaking identity in Latvia.
By using Russian-speakers in Latvia as a specific case study, this volume also offers a fresh methodological approach to the study of discourses and discursive strategies. It outlines a coherent methodology to study the evolution of discourses over time, rather than a single de-contextualized and static time period.
Drawing on media analysis, elite interviews, focus groups and survey data, Russian Speakers in Post-Soviet Latvia situates the identity strategies of Russian speakers within the political, cultural, and economic transformations of the post-Soviet era. By assessing political, cultural, and economic links with their home state (Latvia) and their potential kin-state (Russia), it offers important insights into the complex identity positions of Latvia’s Russian speakers, and how these positions have evolved in Latvia since the late Soviet period.

Grāmatas kopsavilkums latviešu valodā. My thanks to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia for o... more Grāmatas kopsavilkums latviešu valodā.

My thanks to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia for organising the book launch (17/02/2016).

Conference Papers by Ammon Cheskin

This article examines Russian foreign policy towards the “Russian diaspora”. It will be shown tha... more This article examines Russian foreign policy towards the “Russian diaspora”. It will be shown that Russian efforts to utilize its diaspora for its own geopolitical ends have come to little. Instead the main successes of Russian compatriot policy have been in cementing its own domestic identity and in placating calls for imperial expansionism from within Russia. To this end, it will be argued that Russia’s soft engagement with its “compatriots” in the Baltic states serves an important domestic function for the Russian authorities while doing little to undermine the internal stability and sovereignty of the Baltic states. In fact, it is argued that Russia’s application of soft power in the region acts as a pressure valve, tempering Russian imperialism by creating the illusion of meaningful Russian influence.

Book Chapters by Ammon Cheskin

This chapter explores the responses of Latvia's left wing parties to the 2008 economic crisis. It... more This chapter explores the responses of Latvia's left wing parties to the 2008 economic crisis. It is argued that, because Latvia's political spectrum can be characterised in terms of ethnic, rather than ideological, cleavages, the responses of the country’s radical left have been heavily constrained by ethnic considerations that are peculiar to Latvia’s post-Soviet political environment. The conflation of ethnic and ideological ‘leftness’ explains the ultimate failure of leftist parties to gain wider political and social traction in Latvia. Crucially, it has almost entirely prevented the country’s extant radical left from moving beyond its communist roots and articulating an anti-austerity message that could transcend ethnic cleavages.

"This article examines the practices of Latvian journalistic and poiltical 'elites' who publicly ... more "This article examines the practices of Latvian journalistic and poiltical 'elites' who publicly claim to represent 'Russian-speakers'.

through a media analysis of the country's two most popular Russian-language, daily newspapers, it will be shown that many of the strategies employed by such elites have significant, and largely negative, effects on Latvia's democratic development. "

Media and Other by Ammon Cheskin

Radio interview with Latvia's Radio 4 (in Russian)

"Mapping self-reported knowledge and use of Ukrainian and Russian language throughout Ukraine. ... more "Mapping self-reported knowledge and use of Ukrainian and Russian language throughout Ukraine.

This data was obtained as part of a project that has been disrupted by recent events in the east of Ukraine. The full data correlates language knowledge and use with geopolitical preferences. If this data sounds interesting to you please contact me - especially if you are good with quantitative analysis :-)"

Call for Papers by Ammon Cheskin

There is a wealth of research on Russians and/or Russian-speakers in the post-Soviet space. The e... more There is a wealth of research on Russians and/or Russian-speakers in the post-Soviet space. The existing literature has examined Russian(-speaking) identities, social integration, linguistic practices, and kin-state relations between Russia and ‘Russian compatriots’ within various national spaces. The bulk of this research, however, has largely focused on specific issues within a given state (most prominently Latvia and Estonia). While comparative research has often been carried out in the Baltic context, relatively little attention has been paid to comparative analysis across the broader confines of the post-Soviet space.

In light of the Ukraine crisis, and the increasingly assertive ‘compatriot’ policies of the Russian Federation, this international conference brings together specialists with expertise in numerous national contexts. While the post-Soviet space is characterised by contrasting political, social, cultural, and economic realities, the conference is aimed at progressing the research agenda by conceptualising numerous issues from international and comparative perspectives.

The conference is interdisciplinary in nature and we invite paper proposals from specialists working within the fields of memory studies, social integration, identity, linguistics and socio-linguistics, minority relations, economics, politics, sociology, anthropology and international relations. Selected papers will be invited to contribute to a special issue in a leading, internationally-recognised journal.

Paper proposals of no more than 350 words, and an accompanying short biography of no more than 200 words, should be sent to Dr Ammon Cheskin ammon.cheskin@glasgow.ac.uk (University of Glasgow) and Dr Heiko Pääbo (University of Tartu) heiko.paabo@ut.ee no later than Friday 3 July.

A limited number of travel grants are available, especially for scholars based in post-Soviet countries. The conference is supported by CRCEES, an inter-institutional Centre of Excellence in Russian, Central and East European Language-Based Area Studies, in conjunction with the University of Tartu and the University of Glasgow.