OTHERING IN EUROPEAN IDENTITY The Nordic Social Democratic Press and The portrayal of Bolshevism and The Russian Revolution in between 1917-1919

Abstract

The following thesis undertakes the historical case of the Russian Revolution in 1917 and further examines how this revolution sent shockwaves of fear through the European Socialist community. Through an exploration of the Nordic Social Democratic Press, the thesis makes use of the theoretical frameworks that include Benedict Anderson's theory on imagined communities, Jürgen Habermas' notion of the public sphere, and Neumann's theory on identity. The theoretical framework gives a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between public media discourse, ideology, and identity construction. Using critical discourse analysis and material consisting of 15 editorial articles from the newspaper Social-Demokraten in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden published between 1917 – 1919, the study presents a detailed analysis. The empirical findings uncover a shift in the portrayals of The Russian Revolution and Bolshevism; starting from a point of sympathy and solidarity with the revolutionary cause, it moves towards skepticism and ideological disagreement. By tracing these shifts in discourse, the thesis sheds light on how the constructions of the "Self" and the "Other" move beyond geographical borders and expose a shared ideological community rooted in class-based Internationalism and socialist values. Additionally, it underscores the media's active role in shaping public opinion and calling for political mobilization within a European public sphere characterized by fear and ideological contestation.