The Foreign Policy of Russia

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This text explores the evolution of Russian foreign policy from a historical perspective, now fully updated in its sixth edition. It addresses contemporary issues such as Russia's relations with major powers and post-communist states, focusing on tensions with the U.S. and engagements in Ukraine, Crimea, and Syria. The significance of international security matters, including arms control, sanctions, and military interventions, is emphasized alongside domestic concerns related to natural resource politics, human rights, and terrorism. Organized chronologically, the chapters reveal the continuities in Russia's global behavior since tsarist times, while also highlighting key changes throughout various historical periods, including the Cold War and the post-communist era. The book employs a modified realism framework, emphasizing the balance of power and national interests, and identifies various internal and external factors influencing Russian policy. The sixth edition includes updated discussions on Russia's bilateral relations with the U.S. and other regions, the use of "soft power," interference in elections, and the ongoing Ukraine crisis. It also covers significant developments in the Middle East, including the Iran nuclear deal and involvement in Syria, and concludes with a chapter questioning whether a new Cold War is emerging, along with an epilogue on the July 2018 Trump-Putin Summit.