NATO, Russia and the Discourse of Danger: Analysing the Rhetoric of NATO Secretary General A.F. Rasmussen

Abstract This article examines the political rhetoric of NATO Secretary General Anders F. Rasmussen during his term in office (2009–2014). The officially conducted public diplomacy of A. F. Rasmussen is analysed based on the poststructuralist theoretical assumptions in order to detect the manifestations of discourse of danger in NATO-Russia relations during the years 2009–2014. The empirical data under review (official discourse of A. F. Rasmussen) is interpreted in the light of NATO–Russia relations by determining the main stages, dominating themes and discursive representations of these relations during the analysed period. Based on the tendencies in articulating dangers to NATO, this paper examines the Alliance’s position and its alternation vis-à-vis Russia in international system.