‘Crimea will forever be Russian’: dissenting Norwegian media discourses on Russia’s annexation of Crimea

The scholarly literature on Russia’s influence in Europe has so far mainly focused activities, discussed either as ‘disinformation’ or ‘soft power’. Less attention been paid to understanding the agency of European audiences receptive Russian narratives. Through discourse analysis Norwegian media texts (February 2014 – December 2020) where authors interviewees accepted were prone accept Crimea part Russia, this paper investigates into arguments put forward by these constituencies. Why commentators, representing various political affiliations, willing contrary Norway’s official position? shows that commentators used many coinciding with ones legitimize annexation, informed realism, pragmatism, sovereignism and some cases anti-Americanism. However, they also structured socio-political historical context. Constituencies abroad sharing opinions Russia may provide a certain soft power. In case, fact dissenting discourses Norway represent fringes debate annexation rather than strong united opposition stand, speaks quite clearly limited scope