Foreign Policy of Russia: Capitulation to Re-assertion

Abstract

Russian foreign policy has traversed through several phases. In its first phase, it attempted to build linkages with western powers—the USA and European Union to become a “normal” Western  country. In the next phase, Russia retreated to Eurasianism and fostered closer ties with the former Soviet republics and traditional partners in the South. The third phase is marked by intervention in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria. What we witness is a complete transformation of Russia’s foreign policy from unconditional surrender in the 1990s to complete autonomy a decade later. This chapter begins with identifying the general historical patterns of Russia’s foreign policy. Then, it discusses the strategic thinking of Russian elites categorized as neoliberal, Eurasianist and hyperrealist. The next section is about Russia’s bilateral and multilateral engagements with major powers, such as the USA, EU, China and India. Finally, Russia’s interventions in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria have been discussed in this chapter.