UNDERSTANDING PUTIN’S POWER CONSOLIDATION AND SOCIAL IDENTITY FORMATION THROUGH THE NEW YEAR’S EVE SPEECHES FROM 2000 -2015

Abstract

Abstract: After Boris Yeltsin resigned from his position on the eve of 2000,
Vladimir Putin became the next President of the Russian Republic. The New
Year’s Eve Speech given by the President was very symbolic and illustrated the
transition from an old Yeltsin regime to a new one with Putin. This article
argues that the speeches given by the President during the New Year’s Eve
could be considered as an important indicator of personalistic power
consolidation of Putin in the country. The main argument is that the more
authoritarian regime (and Putin) becomes the more visible are the changes in
the speeches he gives. Moreover, this article also argues that New Year’s Eve
Speeches play an important role for Social Identity Formation of the country.