Not by Deed, but by Word»: A Discourse-Network Analysis of Parliamentary Discussions of the Bill on Raising the Retirement Age in Russia

The study is aimed at identifying discursive communities in the Russian parliament and mechanisms of their formation during the consideration of initiatives that involve changing the political course. Basing on theories of legitimization and policy justification, the authors identify typical divisions in the speeches of parliamentarians and list thematic blocks for the argumentation of their positions within these divisions. Empirically, the study bases on the materials from the parliamentary discussion on raising the retirement age, an initiative adopted by the Russian parliament and signed by the president in 2018. Using the method of discourse network analysis and an appropriate software, the authors collected and analyzed data on thematic reflecting the polarization of opinions and positions of parliamentarians on the issue under study. Its analysis showed that the polarization of parliamentarians' positions, despite the seeming irreconcilability, is insignificant. Both the parliamentary opposition and the majority faction acted and argued their position within the same thematic blocks and categories, differing only in the divergence (sometimes insignificant) of positions (for/against) on the topics under discussion. Furthermore, the analysis of discourse networks has enabled the authors to assess the importance of parliamentary proceedings in reviewing legislative proposals and shaping the debate, as well as the influence of internal parliamentary institutions on the positions expressed by parliamentarians. Thus, the authors found that words spoken publicly in parliament might more accurately determine a speaker's political position than their specific actions, such as voting on a particular issue.