Russia’s Foreign Policy Dilemmas

Globalisation is accepted in the West as an inevitable process that may challenge national policies, has to be adapted to and cannot be stopped. In Russia, the phenomenon is seen as challenging, even threatening and hostile to the national interest and the future of the country. The leading political elite build their domestic rhetoric on the illegitimate and dangerous pursuit of those processes.

In the global arena, Russia is falling behind, it is dragging its feet on accession to the WTO and it is a protectionist and inward-looking country. Russia does not stand up as the leading partner or mediator in any major international issue with no significant ally outside the Community of Independent States (CIS). Vladimir Putin is seeking to boost his country’s international standing and geopolitical role. This volume has the ambition of offering an original analysis of Russia’s national interest and foreign policy in interaction with European, American and Asian partners. The book discusses Russian perceptions and policies from inside the system, with authors who have a deep insight into the Russian political, social and economic environment. It also features two chapters on Russia’s relations with US and Europe and further analyses European approaches and policies toward Russia.

Providing a detailed examination of Russia’s complex foreign relations, this book will be of interest to students and researchers of Russia, foreign policy, political science and international relations.

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Promoting Russia’s National Interest or the Interests of a Few?
3. The Dangers of Oil and Gas Power
4. To Belong or Not to Belong? Russia’s International Dilemma
5. Russians’ Perceptions of the Outside World
6. Russia’s Challenges with China and Japan
7. The Post-Soviet Space: A Delusion?
8. Europe’s Awkward Policies
9. The American Factor in Russian Policy
10. Putin’s Personal Imprint on Russian Foreign Policy
11. Conclusion