The 2014 Crimean Crisis’ Influence on the Russian Role Conception – An Attempt to Introduce Role Conception in the Russian Context

Sammanfattning: This thesis has researched whether the role conception of Russia has been affected by the Crimean Crisis in 2014. The aim of the study was to fill the current theoretical gap in role theoretical research, and add to the knowledge of how role conceptions change. Its analytical framework was based on role theory, where the notion of role conception was selected. The descriptive case study over time was researched by a discourse analysis, in which speeches made by decision makers were analyzed. The data was collected four years prior to the Crimean Crisis as well as four years after the Crimean Crisis. It was then studied in accordance with three operational indicators: ​decision makers’ perception of identity, cultural heritage ​and capabilities.​ The findings of the research proved no valid results – a conclusion commonly reached in role theory. However, the thesis appears to have given valuable knowledge for future role theoretical studies.