This book explores Russia's role in world politics. In recent years, Moscow has played an increasingly active and assertive role in geopolitics. Examples include Russia’s takeover of Crimea and meddling in eastern Ukraine; Russia’s military intervention in Syria and support for the Assad government; the Kremlin’s alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential race; the pursuit of closer economic and diplomatic ties with China; and Russia’s ambitious military reforms and nuclear brinkmanship.Not surprisingly, Russia’s role in world politics has become the object of a spirited debate among Western 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 recent assertiveness? The contributions gathered here address this question by focusing on the interplay of power, ideas, and domestic influences.
Previously published in International Politics Volume 56, issue 6, December 2019
Author(s): Elias Götz, Neil MacFarlane
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 119
City: Cham
Contents
Russia’s role in world politics: power, ideas, and domestic influences
Abstract
Introduction
Russian foreign policy: the ongoing debate
Power-based explanations
Ideational explanations
Domestic political explanations
The case for combining power, ideas, and domestic influences
Shortcomings of the existing explanations
The perils and promises of analytical eclecticism
Road map of the special issue
References
Understanding Russia’s return to the Middle East
Abstract
Introduction
The Arab spring and Russian domestic factors
Ideational factors: state, society and Islam
Power, interest and flexibility
Conclusion
References
Reckless ambition: Moscow’s policy toward the United States, 201617
Abstract
Introduction
What actually happened in 2016
Putin as an individual decision-maker
All dictators are aggressive and lonely
Competing interests within Putin’s inner patron–client circle
Intelligence officers run amok?
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
Explaining Russian foreign policy towards the EU through contrasts
Abstract
Introduction
Contrasts as questions and counterfactuals
Realist explanations
Liberal explanations
Constructivist explanations
Psychological explanations
Events and issues as explanations
Conclusion
References
Russia’s relationship with China: the role of domestic and ideational factors
Abstract
Introduction
National identity as an ideational and domestic construct
Domestic sources of Russian foreign policy toward China
The Putin system
The Chinese case
Ideational motivations of Russian policy toward China
Great power status as a hallmark of national identity
Sources of Russian national identity: alternative narratives
Assessment: A move to the east?
Conclusion
References
The quest for status: how the interplay of power, ideas, and regime security shapes Russia’s policy in the post-Soviet space
Abstract
Introduction
Status: power politics, national identity and regime security
The game changer: Ukraine
Eurasian Economic Union: Russia in, Ukraine out
Georgia: rewinding and fast-forwarding the 2008 war implications
Conclusion
References
Strategic imperatives, status aspirations, or domestic interests? Explaining Russia’s nuclear weapons policy
Abstract
Introduction
Russia’s nuclear force modernization
Maintaining a secure second-strike capability
Compensating for Russia’s conventional weakness
Countering US missile defenses
Russia’s nuclear exercises and maneuvers
Russia’s status aspirations: the nuclear dimension
Russia’s nuclear doctrine and rhetoric
The insufficiency of strategic and status explanations
Domestic politics and the imperative of regime security
Conclusion
References
