https://doi.org/10.31261/pr.23462
This article aims to reconstruct the image of Vladimir Putin as retained in the memory of Angela Merkel and described by her in the autobiography Freiheit. Erinnerungen 1954–2021. The study draws on an analysis of recurring lexical, metaphorical, and evaluative elements in the narrative, which reveal how the author conceptualizes key categories such as power, communication strategies, geopolitics, and the historical identity of the Russian leader. Based on this analysis, a semantic profile of Putin is constructed, highlighting dominant negotiation practices, mechanisms of interpersonal control, and symbolic enactments in diplomatic interactions.
A significant aspect of the study is the role of the narrator’s affectivity: her emotional responses function as
a cognitive tool, enabling the interpretation of intentions and the management of asymmetric political relations. The findings suggest that the former German chancellor’s autobiography constitutes a valuable source for the study of contemporary diplomatic mechanisms, where communication, power, and emotions collectively shape decision-making under conditions of pressure and asymmetry.
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Vol. 194 No. 2 (194) (2026)
Published: 2026-06-30
10.31261/pr
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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