Mellan kallt krig och varm fred

Sammanfattning: This study investigates how the official security doctrine of the Russian Federation has developed during Vladimir Putin´s third presidency. In order to capture the development, a comparison is made of the doctrine´s character in the years before, 2008-2011, and after Putin´s return to the presidency, 2012-2015. The utilized theoretical framework is a development of Katarina Brodin´s and Wilhelm Agrell´s approaches to doctrine analysis, through an integration with the Russian IR-perspectives of realism, liberalism and eurasianism, working as doctrine ideal-types. Qualitative text analysis is employed to investigate the text material, consisting of the National security strategies, Foreign policy- and Military doctrines and the president´s addresses to the federal assembly, published within the aforementioned time frame. The results show a development from a pragmatic real-political doctrine, focused on strategic stability and on transforming Russia into a great power, to a more confrontational geo-normative one, still seized on the great power goal, but more focused on moral confrontation and soft power for ensuring survival. Despite the established development, fundamental assumptions and beliefs are withheld and accentuated, reflecting a mix between realism and eurasianism, giving the doctrine it´s geo-normative character. The conclusion is therefore that no fundamental doctrine shift occurred during the studied time-period.