The Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation : Implications for Black Sea Security

This distinctive book deconstructs the foundational elements of Russian foreign policy from a Russian perspective and with references to Russian sources, rather than the typical Western perspective. The author Olga Raluca Chiriac situates her work at the intersection of strategic studies and cognitive psychology, offering an analysis that goes deep into the roots of Russian strategic behavior, especially socio-cultural elements such as attitudes towards the West, language, culture. She highlights Russia’s unique decision-making process, sometimes overt and other times covert. The book aims to present a mechanism for analysis in both strategic choices and foreign policy, but it also points out that countries and nations are complicated entities, all having a particular historical experience, generational trauma, culture and traditions. Preface Contents About the Author Chapter 1: Introduction: A Geopolitical Matryoshka The Black Sea Russia in the Modern World References Chapter 2: Russkiy Mir: Socio-cultural Cognitive Framing of Russian Foreign Policy Analytical Framework: The Cognitive Approach Socio-cultural Theory: Making Meaning Concept Reemerges: Moscow Methodological Circle Russkiy Mir: Russian World or Russian Peace? Russkiy Mir, the Concept Vectors of Russian World Policy Russian Culture “Russianness” Russian Language Individual Learning and Developing Within the Community Narodnost (народность) Russkiy Mir, the Policy Conclusion References Chapter 3: Wind of Change: Russian Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World Russian Realism: Anarchy, Hegemony and Balance of Power Logic Anarchy Hegemony Framing International Order in The Russian World From Cold War to Post-West World Order Russian Realism: The Primakov Legacy The Unipolar Moment as Seen from Moscow Russkyi Mir in the Polycentric/Multipolar International System Russian “Spheres of Influence” or NATO-Centrism in Europe and the Turn to the East Conclusion References Chapter 4: Enemy at the Gates: NATO in the Black Sea NATO in the Black Sea A Frozen Lake: NATO in the Black Sea During the Cold War (1952–1991) NATO Expansion Post Cold War and the Black Sea (1991–2007) Bucharest Formula (2007–Present) Naval Dimension of the Hegemonic Process Russian Naval Diplomacy and “the Rest” Conclusion References Chapter 5: Socio-economic Warfare with the “Collective West” Starts in the Black Sea The Socio-economic Hegemonic Process in the Black Sea The Russian Economy: An Overview Hegemonic Stability Theory: “Capacity, Will and Legitimacy” The American Approach: US Energy Strategy in the Era of Power Politics Energy Security in the Black Sea A Western Trojan Horse: Russo-German Strategic Relations Russo-German Strategic Partnership? German Dependence on Russian Oil and Gas The Black Sea: The Place Where EU Initiatives Go to Fail Conclusion References Chapter 6: Nothing New on the Eastern Front: Russkiy Mir in the Black Sea Rules-Based World Order Versus New World Order The Security Dilemma and Russian Hegemonic Challenge Black Sea: “Dilemma of Interpretation” or “Dilemma of Response”? References Index