Explaining Change in Russian Foreign Policy: The Role of Ideas in post-Soviet Russia's Conduct Towards the West (St. Anthony's Series)

This book assesses the explanatory utility of different approaches to account for post-Soviet Russia’s foreign policy towards the West. It argues that only by focusing both on external constraints and changes in the Russian leadership’s foreign policy thinking can we explain major facets of Russia’s conduct from 1992-2007. Palgrave Macmillan Contents 8 List of Tables and Figures 10 Acknowledgements 11 List of Abbreviations 12 1 Introduction 14 State of the debate 15 Approach and hypotheses 19 Explanatory and theoretical implications 25 Definitions and limitations of coverage 26 Chapter outline 27 Part I: Theoretical Framework and Analysis of Discourse 28 2 Framework for Analysis 30 Realism and foreign policy analysis: Strengths and weaknesses 30 Social Constructivism: Endogenous interests and ideas on strategy 35 Methodology, methodological challenges, and ways to address them 37 3 Evolution of the Russian Leadership’s Foreign Policy Thinking 41 Discourse on the nature of international relations 42 Discourse on Russia’s identity, international status and role, and its primary interests 45 Discourse on strategy 52 Conclusion 59 Part II: Case Study Analyses 64 4 Russia’s Approaches towards NATO 66 External constraints and Russia’s approach: Russia’s decisions to join the PfP programme and sign the NATO–Russia Founding Act 69 The indeterminancy of the Realist power-maximization hypothesis and the impact of collective ideas 72 Conclusion 91 5 Russia’s Responses to the Balkan Crises (1992–1999) 94 The indeterminacy of the Realist power-maximization hypothesis 97 Collective ideas and Russia’s responses to the Balkan crises 99 External constraints and Russia’s foreign policy 117 Conclusion 122 6 Russia’s Response to the 11 September 2001 Terrorist Attacks 124 External constraints and Russia’s response 126 The indeterminacy of the Realist power-maximization hypothesis 133 Collective ideas and Russia’s swift and far-reaching reaction 142 Conclusion 145 Part III: Implications 148 7 Conclusion 150 Summary of findings 150 Implications 154 Notes and References 165 Selected Readings 204 Index 211 A 211 B 211 C 211 D 212 E 212 F 212 G 212 H 213 I 213 J 213 K 213 L 213 M 214 N 214 O 214 P 214 R 215 S 215 T 215 U 216 V 216 W 216 Y 216 Z 216 ISBN-13:,9780230553729 This Book Takes Stock And Asks What Patterns Have Emerged From 1992 To 2007. It Argues That Only By Focusing Both On External Constraints And Changes In The Russian Leadership's Foreign Policy Thinking Can We Explain Major Facets Of Russia's Conduct. In Analysing Russian Foreign Policy The Book Develops An Original Analytical Framework For Foreign Policy Analysis, Illustrates The Evolution Of The Russian Leadership's Foreign Policy Discourse, And Unravels Major Threads In Russia's Conduct In Three Case Studies. The Case Studies Encompass Moscow's Approaches Towards Nato And Its Enlargement, Its Responses To The Balkan Crises, And Its Reaction To The 11 September 2001 Terrorist Attacks.--book Jacket. Introduction -- Framework For Analysis -- Evolution Of The Russian Leadership's Foreign Policy Thinking -- Russia's Approaches Towards Nato -- Russia's Responses To The Balkan Crises (1992-1999) -- Russia's Response To The 11 September 2001 Terrorist Attacks -- Conclusion. Christian Thorun. Published In Association With St. Antony's College. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 152-197) And Index. Post-Soviet Russian foreign policy towards the West is characterized by ambiguity. While Moscow retreated from superpower status peacefully, its approach towards the West underwent significant change. It evolved from close cooperation with the West to an assertive defence of Russian interests coupled with confrontational rhetoric. This book takes stock and asks which patterns have emerged from 1992 to 2007. It argues that only by focusing both on external constraints and changes in the Russian leadership's foreign policy thinking can we explain major facets of Russia's conduct. In analysing Russian foreign policy the book develops an original analytical framework for foreign policy analysis, illustrates the evolution of the Russian leadership's foreign policy discourse, and unravels major threads in Russia's conduct in three case studies. The case studies encompass : Moscow's approaches towards NATO and its enlargement, its responses to the Balkan crisis, and its reaction to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.--Résumé de l'éditeur An assessment of the explanatory utility of different approaches to account for post-Soviet Russia's foreign policy towards the West, arguing that only by focusing both on external constraints and changes in the Russian leadership's foreign policy thinking can we explain major facets of Russia's conduct from 1992-2007.