Den ryska björnen sover : En pressanalytisk studie av Expressens och Aftonbladets framställning av Putin och Ryssland vid de ryska presidentvalen år 2000, 2004 samt 2012

Sammanfattning: Sweden has always had a special relationship with Russia. The countries have fought dozens of wars against each other, both in the Viking Age, the Middle Ages and the early modern period. This, according to many historians, led to the emergence of a russophobia in Sweden. It has now been over two hundred years ago since the last altercation between these countries, so does russophobia still exist in Sweden, and if not, what characterizes our perception of Russia today?   These are the types of questions that will be processed and answered in this press analytical study of the Swedish media's representation of Putin and Russia. The material studied consists of articles in two major Swedish newspapers from the period around the Russian presidential elections in 2000, 2004 and 2012, all of which were won by Putin.   A general conclusion is that the Swedish media image of Russia is strongly negative. The image of Putin was somewhat positive in the year 2000 but then became increasingly negative. I also found no evidence of russophobia. Although Russia is sometimes portrayed as militarily aggressive there’s nothing that suggest that Sweden should feel threatened.