Representation of the image of Russia's future in print media in the context of Russian society's consolidation

Abstract

Acquiring current sociological information on the features of representing the image of the future in print media is a task that has been highlighted in the context of the integration and consolidation of Russian society in a hybrid reality. Drawing upon theories of the information society and communicative action, the authors examine the information and communicative sphere as determinants in constructing trends in social and political processes, with the media serving as a crucial institution for shaping public opinion. Methods and Empirical Basis: The empirical study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative content analysis and critical discourse analysis of publications in three leading print media outlets during the years 2013-2014 and 20222023. The total sample consisted of 521 articles, with a selected sample of 174 articles published in periodicals such as “Moskovsky Komsomolets”, “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, “Komsomolskaya Pravda,” and “Novaya Gazeta”. Results and Discussion: It was found that the construction of the image of future Russia is based on two groups of factors – internal (social policy, human capital, traditions, economic development, environmental preservation) and external (Russia’s confrontation, multipolar world). The emotional tone of articles from 2013 to 2023 has acquired more negative connotation; the number of articles containing long-term forecasts has decreased due to the implementation of Special Military Operations (SMO). Dominant discourses that construct the image of future Russia and are most actively propagated in the media were described: the “Russia - Eurasian Colossus” discourse, the breakthrough and overcoming discourse, the “besieged fortress” discourse, the discourse of justice, and the discourse of cancellation. In the future, the Russian Federation is presented as a Eurasian integrator based on cultural traditions, historical heritage, and ideological imperatives of a highly consolidated society. It is portrayed as a future leader in technological development, an economy based on import substitution and breakthrough production capacities, the advancement of science and innovation, effective educational and youth policies. Positive representations of the future create images of Russia as a saviour, a leader of a just world order, which is reflected in articles dedicated to the new multipolar world order. The “besieged fortress” and the discourse of cancellation construct both negative images of the country, incapable of responding to contemporary challenges and overcoming socio-economic development risks, as well as positive images where society and authority establish effective strategies to resist threats and external circumstances.