Imperialism and Ethnonationalism in Russia’s Turbulent Years (1989–1994) – How Narratives of Unjust Borders Shaped Putin’s ‘Time Bomb’ Metaphor
Journal: Nationalities Papers
Year: 2025

Abstract The article explores the interplay between imperialism and ethnonationalism, revealing how these seemingly conflicting ideologies coalesced in Russian political thought. The period of 1989–1994 saw a struggle between civic nationalism, which sought to redefine Russia within its existing borders, and imperialist-nationalist currents that viewed Soviet disintegration as a geopolitical catastrophe. Within this ideological conflict, the “time bomb” metaphor emerged as a potent rhetorical de