Russian elite image of Iran : from the late Soviet era to the present

Since the late Soviet era, the presence of Iran has loomed large in the minds of the Russian elite. Soon after the end of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)—and even before—increasing numbers of Russian intellectuals became disenchanted with the West, especially the United States, and looked for alternative geopolitical alliances. The Muslim world became one of the possible alternatives. Iran became especially important in the geopolitical construction of Eurasianists or neo-Eurasianists who believed that Russia’s alliance with Iran is essential for Russia’s rise to power. Yet, by the middle of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s tenure, increasing tension with the Muslim community and the rise of Russian nationalism had led to more complicated views of the Russian elite on Iran. At present, the Russian elite does not mind using Iran as a bargaining chip in its dealings with the West, especially the United States, and as a market for Russian weapons and other goods and services. However, the dream of a Russian-Iran axis is apparently abandoned for good. RUSSIAN ELITE IMAGE OF IRAN:FROM THE LATE SOVIET ERA TO THE PRESENT......Page 2 ABOUT THE AUTHOR......Page 4 SUMMARY......Page 6 The Goal of the Project.......Page 9 Methodology.......Page 11 Sources.......Page 12 THE BIRTH OF THE EURASIAN MODEL......Page 14 INTEGRATION OF IRAN IN EURASIANISM/ NATIONALISTIC DISCOURSE AND GERMINATION OF THE IDEA OF A RUSSIAN/ IRANIAN AXIS......Page 22 LATE YELTSIN ERA: INCREASING POPULARITYOF EURASIANISM AND PLAN FOR A RUSSIAN/IRANIAN AXIS......Page 33 THE NATO/SERBIAN WAR AND THE FOUNDATION FOR PUTIN’S EARLY GEOPOLITICAL POSTURE......Page 40 THE BEGINNING OF PUTIN’S TENURE AND THE PICK OF THE DREAMS OF AN IRANIAN/ RUSSIAN AXIS......Page 41 MUSLIM CHALLENGE......Page 48 THE NEW RUSSIAN NATIONALISM AND THE NEW VISION OF MUSLIMS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE IRANIAN IMAGE......Page 59 RUSSIA’S ISRAEL RAPPROCHEMENT AS A SIGN OF ANTI-IRANIAN POLICY......Page 69 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS......Page 75 CONCLUSION......Page 80 ENDNOTES......Page 85 Dmitry Shlapentokh. September 2009. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 76-91). Available Online In Html And Pdf Formats From Strategic Studies Institute (ssi) Web Site. Adobe Acrobat Reader Required To View Pdf Format.