Abstract
This chapter uses the triangular diplomacy framework to discuss how Russia has reacted to sanctions from the United States and European Union (EU), relying on statements issued through Russian state media. Although these sanctions have imposed economic costs, they have enabled Vladimir Putin to reinforce his public support. Sanctions act as a scapegoat for poor conditions. In doing so, Russia depicts sanctions from the United States and EU differently. Sanctions from the EU are described as more harmful to the EU, and are used in efforts to split commitment to sanction maintenance. Sanctions from the United States are portrayed as outright aggression designed to weaken Russia. As a result, the target is seen as an active player that can use sanctions for its own domestic and international benefit.
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Notes
- 1.
For a full description and history of the construction of this elite network, see Dawisha (2014).
- 2.
The democratic constraints refer only to white citizens in Rhodesia, of course. Those of African descent were completely disenfranchised.
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Patane, C., Drury, C. (2018). Russia Plays the (Triangular) Sanctions Game. In: Birchfield, V., Young, A. (eds) Triangular Diplomacy among the United States, the European Union, and the Russian Federation. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63435-7_6
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