Explaining Russian Foreign Policy Behavior: Theory and Practice [Paperback]

Alexander Sergunin is professor of international relations at the St. Petersburg State University and Higher School of Economics.This book aims to explain the reasons behind Russia's international conduct in the post-Soviet era, examining threat perceptions and national security doctrines. Serguning analyzes Russian foreign policy discourse with a particular focus on the major foreign policy schools of Atlanticism, Eurasianism, derzhavniki, realpolitik, geopolitics, neo-Marxism, radical nationalism, and post-positivism. The author critically assesses the evolution of Russian foreign policy decision-making over the last 25 years and analyzes the roles of various governmental agencies, interest groups and subnational actors. Concluding that a foreign policy consensus is gradually emerging in contemporary Russia, Sergunin demonstrates that Russian foreign policy discourse aims not only at the formulation of an international strategy but also the search for a new national identity. Sergunin argues that Russia's current domestic situation, defined by numerous socio-economic, inter-ethnic, demographic, environmental, and other problems, dictates the need to abandon superpower ambitions and to set modest foreign policy goals.Recommended for everyone who wishes to understand Russia's foreign policy thinking and making. Offers paradoxical but—at the same time—convincing explanations of dramatic changes in Russia's foreign policy. 'Translating' Russian foreign policy discourse to the Western 'political language'.Offers readers analyses of Russian foreign policy from several academic and policy perspectives.