Russia as a Great Power (Basees Routledge Series on Russian and East European Studies)

After a period of relative weakness and isolation during most of the 1990s, Russia is again appearing as a major security player in world politics. This book provides a comprehensive assessment of Russia's current security situation, addressing such questions as: What kind of player is Russia in the field of security? What is the essence of its security policy? What are the sources, capabilities and priorities of its security policy? What are the prospects for the future? One important conclusion to emerge is that, while Russian foreign policy under Putin has become more pragmatic and responsive to both problems and opportunities, the growing lack of checks and balances in domestic politics makes political integration with the West difficult and gives the president great freedom in applying Russia's growing power abroad.

after A Period Of Relative Weakness And Isolation During Most Of The 1990s, Russia Is Again Appearing As A Major Security Player In World Politics, A Shift That Will Have Profound Effects For Regional And Global Stability And Power Relations.

this Book Provides A Comprehensive Assessment Of Russia's Current Security Situation, Addressing Such Topics As The Type Of Player The New Russia Will Be In The Field Of Security, The Essence Of Russian Security Policy, The Sources, Capabilities And Priorities Of The Countries Security Policy, And Its Prospects For The Future. One Important Conclusion To Emerge Is That, While Russian Foreign Policy Under Vladimir Putin Has Become More Pragmatic And Responsive To Both Problems And Opportunities, The Growing Lack Of Checks And Balances In Domestic Politics Makes Political Integration With The West Very Difficult And Gives The President Very Great Freedom In Applying Russia's Growing Power Abroad. This Book Analyzes Both External And Internal Dimensions Of Security, Along With So-called Hard And Soft Security Issues And Intricate Interplay Between Them.

this Book Will Appeal To Russian And Eastern European Scholars And Academics Looking For The Most Up-to-date And Erudite Analysis Of Russia's Current Security Situation.

Book cover 1 Half-Title 2 Series-Title 3 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Contributors 11 Acknowledgements 14 Abbreviations 15 Introduction 20 Part I Dimensions of external security 30 1 Russia as a great power 32 2 Foreign policy prioriries under putin 48 3 Russia and NATO 76 4 The logic of foreign and security policy change in Russia 100 Part II Dimensions of regional security 126 5 What prospects for Russia in the Baltic Sea region 128 6 Filling 'the gap' 149 7 Russia's relations with Georgia under Putin 175 8 Understanding Russia's foreign policy change 201 Part III Internal dimensions of security 220 9 Putin, the army and military reform 222 10 Russian economic security in a medium-term perspective 246 11 Forming a new security identity in modern Russia 276 12 Nuclear safety and environmental risks of north-west Russia 297 Part IV Terrorism 318 13 Russia's approach to the fight against terrorism 320 14 Counter-terrorism as a building block for Putin's regime 342 Conclusions and perspectives 364 Index 375 The motivation for this book is the need for a renewed analysis of Russia, which, after a period of relative weakness and instability during most of the 1990s, has again reappeared in world politics as a major security player, claiming the status of a great power. This is partly due to the fact that, with the advent of Vladimir Putin as president, Russia gained increased political stability, and partly because the Russian economy started to show steady growth. Russia made skillful use of the policy windows of opportunity that were opened to it as a consequence of the terrorist attacks in the United States