Window to the World or Russkiy Mir: The Narrative Strategy of “InoSMI”

This study seeks to advance the analysis of political discourse by incorporating the concept of narrative strategy from narratology into the strategic narrative framework commonly employed in political science. While both approaches share the term “narrative,” they diverge significantly in perspective and methodology, offering potential for fruitful interdisciplinary integration. From the standpoint of contemporary narratology, all narrative discourse is inherently communicative, oriented toward recipients, and shaped by strategies that determine who speaks, to whom, what is conveyed, and how it is structured for rhetorical effect. This study organizes such strategies into three core dimensions: worldview (картина мира), modality (модальность), and ethos (этос). The focal case of analysis is the InoSMI website, a Russian media platform frequently referenced alongside state-sponsored outlets like RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik in discussions of Russia’s sharp power. Through an examination of InoSMI’s publication languages, target audiences, and discursive features within the categories of worldview, modality, and ethos, this study identifies a distinctive narrative strategy that sets it apart from other forms of state-controlled media.