Introduction

Abstract This introduction presents a cluster of articles developed from two international workshops held in April and May 2024 at the University of Copenhagen and Södertörn University. These events critically examined the ideological trajectory of the contemporary Russian regime, increasingly referred to as “Putinism.” Initially viewed as a form of kleptocratic authoritarianism, the regime has gradually adopted a more defined ideological profile. Key features now include the securitization of Russian identity, the articulation of the “Russian World” doctrine, an antagonistic view of the Western‐led global order, and expansionist, quasi‐nationalist visions of Russian civilization. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Putinism has acquired overtly messianic undertones, presenting itself as a universalist, illiberal alternative to Western liberal democracy. It has gained particular resonance in parts of the Global South by blending identitarian conservatism with elements of left‐wing anti‐globalist discourse. Despite lacking a coherent doctrinal core, Putinism selectively appropriates imperial, Soviet, and Orthodox legacies to legitimize state power and assert Russia’s global role.