Narrative strategies in the President of Russia’s addresses: constructing the internal and external image of the state

this article presents a linguistic analysis of narrative strategies employed in the annual addresses of the President of the Russian Federation. The study aims to identify the language mechanisms used to construct both the internal and external image of the state. Drawing on methods of critical discourse analysis, narrative approach, and pragmalinguistics, the author examines key themes, structures, and rhetorical devices that ensure internal audience mobilization and external legitimation on the international stage. The analysis focuses on thematic frameworks such as stability, sovereignty, patriotism, the opposition "us vs. them," as well as strategies for portraying a peacekeeping image and asserting moral superiority. The study highlights the dual communicative orientation of presidential discourse and reveals its pragmatic potential as a tool for political consolidation and foreign policy positioning.

political discourse, narrative strategies, internal image, external image, pragmalinguistics, speech legitimation