Neo-Eurasianism In The Baltics During An Age Of Russian Expansionism

Abstract: Much of the analysis of Russian war aims and motivations in Ukraine has pointed to the Russian ruling elite’s expansionism and nostalgic imperialism fueled by the ideology of Neo-Eurasianism. However, how this inherently expansionist Neo-Eurasian ideology extends beyond Ukraine has been given substantially less attention. Drawing on content and discourse analysis of the Russian elite, as well as public opinion polling in Russia and the Baltic states, the Russian political elite of the Putin regime and the broader Russian population is heavily influenced by Neo-Eurasianism in how they view the Baltics as connected to a Russian-led Eurasian bloc due to nations’ Russian-speaking minorities and successful integration into the Western world since the collapse of the Soviet Union.