Securitisation of Russia by the Obama administration as it relates to the Ukrainian crisis

Abstract

The purpose of this Masters’s thesis is to examine the securitisation of Russia by the Obama administration after the beginning of the Ukraine crisis. The main research question is to what extent has the Obama administration securitised Russia since the crisis began. This study applies the theoretical framework of securitisation that was originally developed by the Copenhagen School as well as additional contributions to the framework by other authors. The methodology of the study is based on Lene Hansen’s model of discourse analysis. In the empirical analysis section of this study both frameworks will be applied to analyse the official foreign policy discourse of the Obama administration as articulated by President Barack Obama himself in his official statements on Ukraine and Russia. The study finds that while elements of securitisation are clearly present and emergency measures against Russia have been implemented, which could be considered proof of successful securitisation, the situation does not constitute full securitisation of Russia because elements of securitisation are consistently countered with desecuritisation, often within the same speech or statement.