Sarkisyan's dissertation explores the Russian government's discourse and initiatives promoting tolerance during the 2000s and 2010s. Initially aligned with liberalism and Western ideologies, the tolerance policy was symbolic, serving as a façade of democracy to secure international legitimacy. The ambiguity in the policy's definition and objectives allowed the Kremlin to balance commitments to democracy and conservatism.
Drawing from the "Dual State" concept, where formal and informal institutions coexist in governance, the research delves into the uncertainties among officials regarding the implementation of tolerance policies. The lack of success criteria left officials struggling to reconcile multiple interpretations of the term and substantiate their contributions to fostering tolerance. The denouncement of the term by Putin in 2013 further complicated the situation.
The dissertation concludes that ideas influence political institutions in Russia but not always as anticipated. Highlighting the Russian regime's disregard for long-term implications and focus on short-term gains, it reveals how the discourse of tolerance transformed into a "subversive institution" that undermines governance in Russia. The research is supported by ethnographic observation, interviews, and policy document analysis.
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Nikolay Sarkisyan successfully defended his dissertation on 15 August 2023.
Trial lecture
Designated topic: «Studying the role of ideas in authoritarian policymaking: key methodological challenges”
Evaluation committee
- Professor Gulnaz Sharafutdinova, King’s College London (first opponent)
- Dr. Federica Prina, University of Glasgow (second opponent)
- Associate Professor Helge Blakkisrud, University of Oslo (committee administrator)
Chair of the defence
- Professor Anne Birgitte Rønning
Supervisors
- Professor Geir Flikke, University of Oslo
- Professor Alexander Sungurov, Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg