‘Better one tiger than ten thousand rabid rats’: Russian media coverage of the Syrian conflict

The West and Russia have been bitterly divided over the conflict in Syria. Whereas Western powers and their Arab allies have backed the opposition and sought the toppling of the Assad regime, Russia has been seen to support the Syrian leader and thwart diplomatic initiatives at the United Nations. In order to better understand what underpins these diametrically opposed positions, this article presents the findings of a detailed analysis of Russian media coverage of the conflict. Focusing on three prominent Russian newspapers and comparing them with three Western counterparts, particular emphasis is placed on their reporting of regime violence, the nature and actions of the opposition, and Russia’s own role in the conflict. In so doing, a clear picture emerges of how starkly different the Syrian conflict appears to a Russian audience.