Geopolitical Rivalries in the "Common Neighborhood": Russia's Conflict with the West, Soft Power, and Neoclassical Realism (Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society Book 214)

This timely book analyses 'soft power' in the light of neoclassical realist premises as part of the foreign policy toolkit of great powers to expand their sphere of influence. Vasif Huseynov argues that if nuclear armed great powers compete against the same type of powers to expand or sustain their sphere of influence over a populated region, they use soft power as a major expansive instrument while military power remains a tool to defend themselves and back up their foreign policies. Presenting his model of soft power, the author explores the role of soft power projection by great powers in the formation of the external alignment of regional states. He focuses on the rivalries between Russia and the West (i.e. the EU and the USA) over the states located between the EU and Russia (the region known as the "common [or shared] neighborhood") and on two of these regional states (Ukraine and Belarus) to test his hypotheses. Contents Foreword Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables 1. Introduction Literature Review and Research Gap Theoretical Argument Structure of the Book 2. Analytical Framework Realism: Neoclassical Realism (Neoclassical) Realism on Great Power Rivalries (Neoclassical) Realism on the Foreign Policy of Regional States amidst Great Power Rivalries Public Opinion and Foreign Policy State Autonomy across Different Variables Soft Power Historical Review on Soft Power Soft Power in Theoretical Writings Soft Power in Practice Reconceptualization of Soft Power State-Managed Projection Soft Power vs. Hard Power Case Selection The Russia—West Confrontation over the “Common Neighbourhood” The “Common Neighbourhood” States Conclusion 3. Soft Power in Western Foreign Policies (2004—2016) Soft Power vs. Hard Power in Policies of Western Powers Soft Power as the Western Foreign Policy Tool Self-Projection Narratives International Broadcasting Cultural Diplomacy and Exchange Programmes Western NGOs and Support for Civil Society American Non-Governmental Organizations European Non-Governmental Organizations Foreign Aid American Assistance European Assistance Limitations of the Western Soft Power Policies Conclusion 4. Soft Power in Russia’s Practice (2004—2016) Soft Power vs. Hard Power in Russia’s Policies Soft Power as Russia’s Foreign Policy Tool Self-Projection Narratives International Broadcasting Academic Exchange Programs Russia’s NGOs and Support to Civil Society Economic Ties and Foreign Aid Limitations of Russian Soft Power Conclusion 5. States with Relatively Strong State Autonomy: The Case of Belarus Belarus Between the West and Russia State Autonomy Vis-à-vis Non-State Actors Non-State Actors under the Influence of External Powers Non-State Actors under the Influence of Russian Soft Power Non-State Actors under the Influence of Western Soft Power Non-State Actors and External Alignment Conclusion 6. States with Relatively Weak State Autonomy: The Case of Ukraine Ukraine Between the West and Russia State Autonomy Vis-à-vis Non-State Actors Non-State Actors under the Influence of External Powers Non-State Actors under the Influence of Russian Soft Power Non-State Actors under the Influence of Western Soft Power Projection Non-State Actors and External Alignment Conclusion 7. Conclusions The Puzzle and Theoretical Arguments Empirical Findings Implications for Theory Bibliography

This timely book analyzes 'soft power' in the light of neoclassical realist premises as part of the foreign policy toolkit of great powers to expand their sphere of influence. Vasif Huseynov argues that if nuclear-armed great powers compete against the same type of powers to expand or sustain their sphere of influence over a populated region, they use soft power as a major expansive instrument while military power remains a tool to defend themselves and back up their foreign policies. Presenting his model of soft power, the author explores the role of soft power projection by great powers in the formation of the external alignment of regional states. He focuses on the rivalries between Russia and the West (i.e. the EU and the USA) over the states located between the EU and Russia (the region known as the "common [or shared] neighborhood") and on two of these regional states (Ukraine and Belarus) to test his hypotheses.