Politics of Anger: " Post-Imperial Hangover " of Russia (original) (raw)

Bringing Geopolitics Back In: Russia's Foreign Policy and Its Relations with the Post- Soviet Space

Recent prominent events involving Russia, such as the Russian-Georgian war, the launch of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Ukrainian crisis clearly illustrate that Russia is repositioning itself in the international arena by forcefully demonstrating that the post-Soviet space is and will continue to be a priority focus of its foreign policy. The current more assertive stance of Russia has significant global implications and invites more research effort. What theoretical approach, if any, is most helpful for understanding Russia’s current assertiveness and international relations primarily involving Russia? In this regard, the three books under review here provide a valuable resource. Though dealing with different topics, they deliver an important overarching message about how to understand the interstate relations in the region: geopolitics emerges as a powerful explanatory paradigm which helps to better understand the intricacies of the Eurasian international politics. In addition to reviewing the books, this review attempts to capture the common themes, if any, emerging from them and from other literature in the field that could contribute to the overall shaping of the field of post-Soviet Russian foreign policy studies. The review provides an account of what a geopolitical analytical framework is and why it is useful in explaining Russia’s foreign policy. It is argued that if one is to understand international relations primarily involving Russia, one must take geopolitical factors seriously.

Critical geopolitics on Russian foreign policy: Uncovering the imagery of Moscow’s international relations

International Politics, 2016

The pragmatic and imperialist frames have dominated the analyses of Russian foreign policy. Despite the glaring similarities of Russia's international conduct with expectations of pragmatism and expansionism, this study argues that Moscow's foreign policy has been informed by more nuanced and dynamic conceptions of international relations. To uncover the imagery of global politics, as conceived by Russia's top foreign policy makers, this study employs a critical geopolitics perspective. The latter views foreign policy as a social, cultural, discursive, and political practice of constructing, defending, and living the alternative claims about the 'truths' of international relations. The study illuminates Russia's spatial conceptions of the world, its views of the international actors, and its national identity discourse. It shows how this imagery enters Russia's geopolitical reasoning that provides the Russian government with 'rationality' for projecting soft and hard power in the neighborhood and beyond.

RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY: A QUEST FOR GREAT POWER STATUS IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD Russian Foreign Policy, in Foreign Policy in Comparative Perspective, Ryan Beasley, Juliet Kaarbo, Jeffrey Lantis, and Michael Snarr (eds.). CQ Press, 2012, pp. 94-117

This chapter depicts recent changes in Russia—from a somewhat dysfunctional state in the first decade after the end of the Soviet Union to a more stable and centralized government with a desire and the capabilities to reclaim its status as a great power in world politics. Grounded in historical context and geopolitical realties, current Russian foreign policy can be characterized in Realist terms with the state asserting its interests vis-à-vis other great powers. Mariya Omelicheva also argues, however, that a constructivist focus on Russia's struggle with its self-identity is important for explaining contemporary Russian foreign policy. Inside Russia, this struggle is largely concentrated in a centralized state apparatus, although elite debates over Russia's role in the world are influenced by the military, interest groups and to some extent the Russian public. This chapter concludes with an analysis of these forces in the Russian-Georgian conflict. Despite its unique histo...

Journal of Global Initiatives : Policy , Pedagogy , Perspective Volume 12 Number 1 Russia Relations in Today ' s World Article 6 Russia ’ s Fight for the " Globe

2018

The foreign policy of Russia in the near abroad is the continuation of its domestic policy, which includes the consolidation of the population around a leader by means of creating an image of an enemy, especially at times when the economic situation in the country is deteriorating. When interpreting the inner processes in the country, political scientists usually apply the decomposition of the totalitarian Soviet regime as a framework. This paper suggests a broader framework through an analysis of historical structures anchored in Russian civilization. The key to understanding Russia's foreign policy, I argue, is rooted in the imperial syndrome associated with the country’s history, whether one considers the tsarist, Soviet, or post-Soviet periods. At present, Russia’s desire to restore its status as a world power, as in the past, requires it to develop a foreign policy secured by control of its nearest neighbors. For centuries, it purchased their loyalty and fealty with natural...

The Structure of Modern Russia's Foreign Strategy

The Structure of Modern Russia's Foreign Strategy, 2023

Modern Russia is no longer capable of contending for global preeminence, but it still aggressively tries to achieve outcomes of crucial world significance. Besides imperial restoration efforts in its neighborhood, Russia actively operates on a wider global scale, seeking to punch above its economic weight. The Kremlin political elite has come up with a specific vision of what it is they want internationally, and has developed tactics to try and bring it to fruition. The present work identifies and structurally dissects this vision and Russian geostrategic activities in its service. It helps us generate a frame of reference in which to place new Russian geostrategic activities as they occur, in order to better understand their significance and purpose.

Russia’s role in world politics: power, ideas, and domestic influences

International Politics, 2018

Russia's role in world politics has become the object of a spirited debate among policymakers, think-tank analysts, and academics. Much of this debate focuses on one central question: What are the main drivers, or causes, of Moscow's increasingly proactive and assertive foreign policy? The purpose of this special issue is to address this question by focusing on the interplay of power, ideas, and domestic influences. Our introductory article sets the scene for this analytical endeavor. More specifically, the article has three aims: (1) to review the existing explanations of Moscow's assertiveness; (2) to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and benefits of employing eclectic approaches in the study of Russian foreign policy; and (3) to outline the contributions of the articles that follow.

Russian Foreign Policy is a Reaction to Western Antagonism

The foreign policy of the Russian Federation is one that is increasingly politically assertive and militarily aggressive. This essay presents an analysis that is informed by Kenneth Waltz’s third image political view displaying the Russian Federation executing a behavior as a reaction to a perceived antagonistic Western foreign policy specifically through the increasing influence of NATO and the growing economic strength and political influence of the European Union. This essay presents a chaotic international environment that is attempting to reach international stability by concentrating on four foci: the European Union’s creation and development; the background of the 2008 Georgia-Russo conflict; the annexation of Crimea; and the recent events of the Russian fighter destroyed by Turkish air forces. Waltz’s third image applied to these foci will answer why Russia’s foreign policy is aggressive in nature. The nature of Russian belligerence can be explained as a response to the actions of the United States and increasing Western involvement in Russia’s sphere of influence. One major incursion to this sphere of influence is economic and trade.

A Window on Russian Geopolitical Thought 5 May 2023 Rev

This article provides "A Window on Russian Geopolitical Thought" in two parts. The first part contextualizes Aleksandr Dugin's 2011 book Geopolitika; the second gives an English translation of its detailed analytic table of contents. No English translation of the book itself has yet been published. Part I contrasts Russian and American politics, their current economic and spiritual rivalry in Ukraine, and a sketch of four of Dugin's books contextualizing his geopolitical project, which maps out his multi-polar vision of the world in opposition to the Anglo-American maritime unipolar vision. He relies upon the classic rivalry between sea power in the form of NATO and land power based upon the Eurasian heartland. Biographical Note. E. M. Macierowski earned his B.A. from St. John's College in Annapolis, his Licentiate in Mediaeval Studies from the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Toronto. He also studied at the then-Imperial

ORF OccasionalPaper 202 Russia-Geopolitics

ORF, 2019

Russia is widely regarded as one of the major revisionist powers in the world, determined to upend the global liberal order. To be a global power, Russia must become a maritime power as well. Thus, it seeks to gain control in Eurasia and the region between the Black Sea and the Baltic region. The North European Plain and the river Danube hold strategic significance for Russia, the former being a gateway to Europe and the latter the economic lynchpin of 10 important countries. However, the presence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the Black Sea and the Baltic states is an impediment to Russia’s plans. This paper analyses Russia’s geopolitical situation and its longstanding conflict with the Western powers. It draws on Grygiel and Mitchell’s insights in The Unquiet Frontier1 to explore why the United States must preserve the current world order and what it must do to succeed.