Presidential Inaugurations and Ideological Power - Sarah Porter 1

Kremlin where previous inaugurations have taken place Presidential Inaugurations and where three Tsars of Russia were crowned. These elements of the ceremony are a clear demonstration of and Ideological Power Putin’s authority and present him as the rightful leader of Russia. Sarah Porter Leaders often appeal to the national identity of their people to strengthen their ideological power. Elements such as 05/18/2018 the location of the ceremony, the uniforms of the military, the music, and the display of the Russian flag were used in Putin’s inauguration to speak to the pride of the Russian people and communicate commitment to tradition. Think back to President Trump’s inauguration in 2017. What aspects of the ceremony used American national identity to strengthen the ideological power of his position as President of the United States?

(If you are interested in watching President Putin’s inauguration ceremony, you can see a video of it here.) Photo of Putin Provided by: kremlin.ru.

By: Sarah Porter

On May 7, Vladimir Putin was inaugurated for a fourth term as the President of Russia after being reelected in March. Inaugurations and other public ceremonies and appearances are opportunities for leaders to strengthen their ideological power, or the influence they have which makes people willing to follow them. By taking a closer look at some of the elements of President Putin’s inauguration we can see tactics being used to present Putin in a way that legitimizes his leadership and that increases the influence he has over his people.

Something very unique about the 2018 inauguration is that President Putin was shown working in his office at the beginning of the broadcast of the ceremony. Only when he received a call telling him everyone was waiting for him did he get up and leave his work to go take the oath of office. This communicates several different things to those watching. First, it portrays Putin as a humble leader who is more concerned about his work and the people he serves than he is about the pomp and glory that comes with the position he holds. It also gives an impression of approachability and transparency by giving a glimpse of where the president of Russia works and what he does. Humility, approachability, and transparency are all admirable qualities for a leader to have and presenting President Putin in this way is meant to demonstrate that he is a leader worth following. The choice to show Putin coming straight from his work as president to take the oath of office for another term also communicates permanence and continuity. These attributes are underscored by the location chosen for the event: an elaborate hall in the