This book explores Russia's role in world politics. In recent years, Moscow has played an increasingly active and assertive role in geopolitics. Examples include Russia’s takeover of Crimea and meddling in eastern Ukraine; Russia’s military intervention in Syria and support for the Assad government; the Kremlin’s alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential race; the pursuit of closer economic and diplomatic ties with China; and Russia’s ambitious military reforms and nuclear brinkmanship.Not surprisingly, Russia’s role in world politics has become the object of a spirited debate among Western policymakers, think-tank analysts, and academics. Much of this debate focuses on one central question: What are the main drivers, or causes, of Moscow’s recent assertiveness? The contributions gathered here address this question by focusing on the interplay of power, ideas, and domestic influences.
Previously published in International Politics Volume 56, issue 6, December 2019
1. Russias role in world politics: power, ideas, and domestic
influences - Elias Götz and Neil MacFarlane .- 2. Understanding Russias
return to the Middle East - Roland Dannreuther .- 3. Reckless ambition:
Moscows policy toward the United States, 2016/17 - Kimberly Marten .-
4. Explaining Russian foreign policy towards the EU through contrasts
- Tuomas Forsberg .- 5. Russias relationship with China: the role of
domestic and ideational factors - Jeanne L. Wilson .- 6. The quest for
status: how the interplay of power, ideas, and regime security shapes
Russias policy in the post-Soviet space - Maria Raquel Freire .-
7. Strategic imperatives, status aspirations, or domestic interests?
Explaining Russias nuclear weapons policy - Elias Götz.
Elias Götz is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Uppsala Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies (UCRS), Uppsala Univresity, Sweden.
Neil MacFarlane is Lester B Pearson Professor of International Relations and Fellow at St Anne's College, University of Oxford, UK.
