Format: on Shaninka campus and online
Language: Russian, English
Moderators: Georgii Mamvriiskii (Shaninka student), Galina Pisareva (Shaninka student), Artem Maltsev (Shaninka and HSE lecturer)

In the field of international relations (IR), particularly within the dominant paradigms of realism and liberalism, political rhetoric is often regarded as a secondary element in analytical frameworks. Nevertheless, examining this dimension can shed light on key characteristics of state interactions within the international system. First, the official rhetoric of state actors serves as a channel of communication between states, enabling them to convey their intentions and positions on current events. Second, official rhetoric reflects how state actors conceptualize their state’s role within the international system. Third, a crucial function of official rhetoric is to articulate the motives behind state actions—not only to individual states but also to the broader international community. These actions may include activities such as voting in the UN, combating terrorism, or engaging in international armed conflicts.

One of the central challenges in studying political rhetoric lies in its methodology. The increasing application of quantitative methods and programming tools has marked a significant milestone in the field, enabling the analysis of large-scale data sets. This methodological shift has sparked robust debates about the merits of employing quantitative versus qualitative approaches in rhetoric analysis. Furthermore, scholars have raised questions about the feasibility of integrating these two methodologies.

This panel invites participants to explore how the study of political rhetoric enhances our understanding of the ways states communicate with one another and other actors in international relations. Additionally, we will examine contemporary methods and analytical approaches for studying political rhetoric.