“Generation gap” in the discourse of liberal media in contemporary Russia

Abstract

The article examines the way in which liberal media represent the concept of age and the conflict of generations in contemporary Russia. Three media are studied: “Novaya Gazeta”, “Echo of Moscow”, and “Radio Liberty”. The participation of young people and adolescents in protest rallies makes it relevant to study both generational differences per se and their images in the media. The author comes to the following conclusions. First, the politicisation of generational differences and the use of age metaphors are becoming a characteristic feature of liberal political discourse. Second, metaphors of age are used in Russian contemporary liberal discourse to contrast generations, to glorify the younger generation in general and the leaders of political protests in particular, and to delegitimise the government which is attributed negative “senile” qualities. Not only the age of a politician but also the length of his tenure in office are grounds for labeling him as “old” with the accompanying negative meanings — such as moral and physical obsolescence, incapacity. Third, generational change is often seen by the liberal media as one of the preconditions for political transformations which are described by the metaphor “youth is our future”. The conflict between the government and the opposition is seen as a confrontation between the “past” and the “future”. When describing young people, liberal media use mostly positive characteristics, among which fearlessness and activity stand out. Fourth, the liberal media also associate the value gap in Russian society with age: young people are seen as the most Europeanized part of society and as carriers of European values. Fifth, metaphors of age are used to describe both Russian and foreign politicians.