IRS 353 Russian Foreign Policy

In this course we will examine the thirty-years history of Russia's international relations (1991-2023). We will study the main features of Russia's foreign policy during the presidency of B. Yeltsin (1991-1999), V. Putin (2000-2008), D. Medvedev (2008-2012), V. Putin (2012-2018), V. Putin (2018-until now) with the aim to observe similarities and differences in their tenure, and understand the core logic of foreign policy decision making of the Kremlin; as well as the role of domestic and international factors in it. The Russian foreign policy will be examined using a variety of theoretical traditions: apart from conventional Geopolitical approach, we will also consider other perspectives such as Constructivism, Critical Theory, or Postcolonialism. This combined approach will help us to understand how Russia's national interests are shaped. We will see how its policies are influenced by its Eurocentric identity and its relations with the U.S., EU and NATO. Apart from that it will help to assess the efficiency of Russia-led regional organizations (the Collective Security Treaty Organization; the Eurasian Economic Union; etc.); its influence in the post-Soviet space (in particular, in Central Asia, Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova) through hardcore and soft power tools; as well as its complex co-existence within the Eurasian space with another great power, China.