scholarly journals Hostility, Chance, and Reason: Clausewitz and Russian Foreign Policy in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Thomas Jones
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Military Strategy ◽  
Russian Foreign Policy ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Russian Military ◽  
Strategic Thought

In 2008, the world stood in shock as Russian troops crossed over into the Republic of Georgia and seemingly annexed the sovereign lands of another nation. This five-day war directly resulted in varying levels of success and the achievement of political and military objectives for the Russian Federation. Several studies and analyses have sought to explain the actions of the Russian military and its leaders in an attempt to discern the primary influences on its current foreign policy and military strategy. However, these studies have devoted little attention towards arguably the most renowned and influential of all military theorists – Carl von Clausewitz. His tenets of philosophical and strategic thought, paired with his development of critical analysis towards the study of war, offer a remarkably relevant lens from which to view the 2008 war and more recent conflicts involving the Russian military. By utilizing Clausewitz’s own methodology of critical analysis in connection with an empirical case study on one of Russia’s recent military actions, this paper will attempt to establish an understanding of Russian foreign policy and military strategy. The research and analysis presented reveals that, contrary to modern arguments, the writings and principles of Carl von Clausewitz are anything but obsolete; when applied to the Russo-Georgian War, various principles of Clausewitzian thought aid in characterizing and explaining the actions and decisions of the armed forces and government of the Russian Federation.

scholarly journals THE JUSTIFICATION STRATEGIES OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY SINCE 2014: A STUDY OF THE CASES OF CRIMEA JOINING RUSSIA AND RUSSIAN MILITARY OPERATION IN SYRIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-26
Author(s):  
Stanislav Myasnikov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
International Level ◽  
Russian Foreign Policy ◽  
Military Operation ◽  
Strategic Narratives ◽  
Syrian Arab Republic ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Russian Military ◽  
Domestic Level

The trajectory of the Russian foreign policy changed in 2014 as Russia deviated from its foreign policy principles. A specific justification was needed in order to legitimize Russian foreign policy domestically and abroad. Russian officials provided such a justification. It was successful on the domestic level, but its effectiveness on the international level was questionable. This article undertakes an analysis of the justification strategies of Russian foreign policy after 2014, with a focus on those, which were used by Russian authorities in their justification of Crimea joining Russia and Russian actions in the Syrian Arab Republic. It is shown why the justification could be considered as strategic. Applying the instruments of the strategic narratives’ theory, the author reveals the main strategic narratives of Russian foreign policy officials. The article discovers that the main justification strategies were communicative defense, communicative attack, communicative counter-attack, and position declaration. The communicative position of the Russian Federation in the case of Crimean justification could be explained as initially difficult, but gaining a communicative position in the justification of Russian actions in Syria could positively support the justification of the Crimean case.

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FACTORS OF EVOLUTION OF THE EURASIAN TRACK OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA’S FOREIGN POLICY

2021 ◽  
pp. 177-192
Author(s):  
Nicole BODISHTEANU
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Recipient Country ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Republic Of Moldova ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Policy Direction

The author considers main external and internal factors of the formation of the Eurasian track in foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova from 2009 to 2020. Among main internal factors of the development of the Eurasian (as opposed to European) track of foreign policy, the author singles out: 1) coming to power of the pro-Russian president I. Dodon; 2) current orientation of the economy on the market of the CIS countries; 3) pro-Western parliamentary contingent and representatives of the Party of Action and Solidarity led by M. Sandu, who, on the contrary, helps to blur this track. Among external factors, the author does put an accent on: 1) the influence of the Ukrainian crisis on public opinion of Moldovan citizens towards Western institutions, and as a result, the growing popularity of the «pro-Russian» foreign policy direction; 2) «soft power» of the Russian Federation, mostly concentrated on a common language (Russian) and cultural values (literature, historical past, etc.); 3) willingness of Eurasian partners (mainly the Russian Federation) to provide assistance in crisis situations at no cost, unlike European and Western institutions, which traditionally indicate a number of democratic transformations in the recipient country as one of the conditions for providing assistance. The author comes to the conclusion that the Eurasian track of the foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova is still in its «infancy», but it has great potential and promises interesting prospects for a small state with a favorable geographical position, located at the crossroads of the most important transport routes between the West and the East.

scholarly journals The German Press about Russian Foreign Policy Activities: The Crisis in Ukraine (2013–2014) and its Consequences

2020 ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
Z. Z. Bahturidze ◽  
D. S. Rachkova
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Federal Republic ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Mutual Exclusion ◽  
German Society ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Russian Foreign Policy ◽  
The Russian Federation

The article is devoted to identifying the current image of Russia in the mirror of the German media after the Ukrainian crisis. The role of the media is noted, the crisis situation in Ukraine is characterized. Analyzed publications in the leading print media of Germany on the topic of Russian foreign policy in Ukraine and the role of the Russian Federation in the political crisis in Ukraine (2013–2014). The authors have identified and identified key approaches in the formation of German society a certain idea of Russia and its foreign policy. As conclusions, it is noted that both for objective reasons, and not least thanks to the German media, which use a lot of negative characteristics when constructing the image of Russia, relations between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany go through a zone of mutual exclusion. However, relations between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany can go to a new level, taking into account the possible pragmatic cooperation of the two states, and provided, among other things, a reduction in the degree of anti-Russian rhetoric in the German media.

“Sovereign Democracy” Discourse in the Russian Foreign Policy

2018 ◽  
pp. 178-200
Author(s):  
Neziha Musaoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Russian Foreign Policy ◽  
The West ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The One

Many important changes occurred in the Russian Federation's foreign policy since 2000s with Putin's coming to power. Although the foreign policy is defined as pragmatic during this period, it is in fact ideologically constructed on the basis of the concept of “sovereign democracy.” The concept constitutes in the same time the source of loyalty of the Russian reelpolitik towards the West, especially the USA and of the Russian anti-globalist policies. The aim of this chapter is to analyze the intellectual, normative, and conceptual dimensions of the “sovereign democracy” concept that could serve to conceive the foreign policy practice of the Russian Federation, on the one hand, and on the other hand its dialectical relationships with the West in the era of globalization.

The Formation of Russian Foreign Policy Principles and Strategies: S. V. Lavrov as a Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Security Council (2000–2004)

2021 ◽  
pp. 31-42
Author(s):  
А.А. Синдеев
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Security Council ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
United Nations Security Council ◽  
Russian Foreign Policy ◽  
Russian President ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The United Nations

Актуальность статьи определяется востребованностью на нынешнем этапе осмысления опыта современной России исследований, посвященных процессам, явлениям, принципам и подходам, сопровождавшим формирование ее внешней политики. При этом речь идет как об универсальном, так и об индивидуальном (личностном) уровнях. Об актуальности выбранной темы свидетельствуют совпавшие в 2020 году два юбилея — Организации Объединенных Наций, ее Совета Безопасности и юбилей министра иностранных дел России Сергея Викторовича Лаврова. С учетом последнего факта данная статья не носит свойственного юбилейным статьям характера. Ее цель состоит в том, чтобы проанализировать, какие принципы и подходы в конце ХХ — начале XXI века были положены в основу российской внешней политики. Для реализации заявленной цели автор использовал открытые источники — послания Президента РФ В. В. Путина Федеральному собранию с 2000 по 2004 год, а также все протоколы заседаний Совета Безопасности ООН за вышеуказанный хронологический период, и выделил для статьи те из них, которые касались борьбы с терроризмом, поскольку эта проблематика была востребована в 2000–2004 годах и предоставляла хорошие шансы для объединения усилий различных партнеров. Данные материалы потребовали применения системного подхода, историко-генетического, историко-типологического и сравнительно-исторического методов. Результатами проведенного исследования стали систематизация официальных внешнеполитических установок, анализ принципов и подходов, использованных С. В. Лавровым на посту постоянного представителя России в Совбезе ООН. Полученные результаты необходимо воспринимать как предварительные. Работа над проблемой должна быть продолжена. The relevance of the article is accounted for by the necessity to analyze and reassess research works devoted to the processes, phenomena, principles and strategies that have shaped the foreign policy of modern Russia. The article treats the issue on both universal and individual (personal) levels. The relevance of the issue is accounted for by two anniversaries we celebrate in 2020, namely the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council and the 70th birth anniversary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov. It should be noted, however, that the tone of the article is not celebratory. It is aimed at the analysis of principles and strategies of the foreign policy adopted by the Russian Federation in the late 20th — early 21stcenturies. To achieve the aim of the research, the author of the article analyzes open sources, such as Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation given by the Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2000–2004, and all the minutes of meetings of the United Nations Security Council in 2000–2004. The author focuses attention on speeches devoted to the struggle against terrorism, for the issue was highly relevant in 2000–2004 and demanded that partners should coordinate their efforts to combat common challenges. To analyze the abovementioned data, the author of the article employed systemic approach, history and genetic approach, historical-typological approach, comparative-historical approach. The research enabled the author to systematize official guidelines of Russian foreign policy and to analyze the principles and strategies used by S. V. Lavrov as permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Security Council. It should be noted that the findings of the research are preliminary and require further analysis.

Legal Foundations of Russia’ Military Security

2015 ◽  
pp. 56-63
Author(s):  
V. Yakovlev
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Constant Attention ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Military Security ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Russian Military

The military security of the Russian Federation in the face of external and internal threats is still primarily important. In this context the rightful principles of defense and security in Russia play a discrete role. The article provides the analysis of these principles for a legal framework of the Russian military security regulation. It reveals system problems, gaps and contradictions of the legal regulation. Complex and urgent measures for the legal system and legal instruments improvement are suggested in the article. It is proposed to develop a number of regulatory acts needed by reason of the blanket character of the Federal Defense Act. Among these are: The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Act, The Operational Equipment of the Territory of the Russian Federation for the Purpose of Defense Act, The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Management and Control during the War Act, etc. Problems of the social relations legal regulation in the defense and security sphere are systemic and complex, require a constant attention on the part of government agencies and a painstaking daily work of legislators. It should facilitate bringing the defense and military security system of the Russian Federation to a fundamentally different, whole new level relevant to the present level of external and internal threats.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION ARMAMENT POLICY FOR ARMED FORCES UP-GRADING

2020 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-95
Author(s):  
Jarosław Nawrotek
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The State ◽  
Efficient Operation ◽  
Russian Federa Tion ◽  
The World ◽  
Power Effect ◽  
The Russian Federation

Plans of Russia to return on the international arena as a strategic power effect the aggressive foreign policy including military engagements into local conflicts all over the world. Modern armed forces is a necessary tool of such activities. The Russian Federa-tion successively increases the financial as-sets for development, production and supplies of the ordnance in the frame of the State Armament Programs (SAP) to provide efficient operation of the army. Currently two state armament programs exist in the Russian Federation: the first prepared for years 2011–2020 (SAP- 2020) and second for years 2018-2025 (SAP-2025). The two plans are complementary and the funds not used by SAP-2020 will be shifted to SAP-2025.

Foreign Policy of Russia: ‘Soft Power’ of the Regions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-57
Author(s):  
S. P. Arteev
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Russian Regions ◽  
Russian Foreign Policy ◽  
Interstate Relations ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Federal Center

As relations between the Russian Federation and the West continue to deteriorate, traditional diplomatic instruments become less eff ective. Conversely, the role of alternative diplomatic channels is growing. However, the Russian foreign policy still tends to underestimate their potential. In particular, the soft power potential of the Russian regions appears to be largerly under-utilized. The paper starts with a general overview of the specifi c features of sub-state/sub-national actors in the world politics. In particular, the author emphasizes that these actors are synthetic by nature, which predetermines their particular role on the international scene, as they can use policy instruments specifi c to both state and non-state actors. The author provides a model for classifi cation of the Russian regions based on the level of their international activity. The paper examines by what means the international activities of the regions can infl uence the interstate relations and outlines two basic frameworks for joint actions of the federal center and the regions on the international arena: ‘culture and image-building’ and ‘political plus’. The author emphasizes the importance of the federal-regional cooperation in addressing foreign policy issues, particularly, in response to international crises. The paper assesses the capacity of diff erent Russian sub-national actors to actively participate through their soft power potential in normalization of interstate relations. The author concludes that this potential could be successfully integrated into the Russian foreign policy strategy. However, in order to improve the quality of the federal-regional cooperation on the foreign policy issues, it is necessary to develop a new framework for interaction between the federal center and the regions of the Russian Federation, based on greater involvement of regional representatives in the decision-making process (which implies reassessment of the entire system of federal relations).

scholarly journals Degradation of Strategic Culture as a Threat to International Security: From Perceived Dilemmas to Real Military Confrontation

2019 ◽  
pp. 614-627
Author(s):  
Serhii Zubchenko
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
International Security ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Strategic Culture ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Hybrid War ◽  
Russian Military

The article highlights and analyses the current issues of international security agenda related to the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the application by the Russian Federation of targeted destabilizing hybrid war techniques the territory of other states. The article describes the fundamental repercussions of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Russian military invasion of Donbas for international relations. Strategic culture is highlighted as an important factor of success of states and factor of international security as well as a prerequisite for the effective solution of urgent global problems, prevention of crisis and destructive phenomena. The necessity of prompt, consolidated and comprehensive inter-national response to illegal actions by the Russian Federation and its proxy-subjects, rep-resenting a direct and obvious threat to international peace and security is substantiated. The author analyses the Russian aggression against Ukraine in the context of national, European and global security. The researcher notes, referring to the experts’ opinion, that the imposition of sanctions alone is not enough to achieve foreign policy goals. Specific signals from the top political leadership of states and international organizations imposing them are also important because these signals shape certain expectations of decision-makers. Keywords: Russian military aggression against Ukraine, international law, diplomacy, international security, foreign policy, strategic culture, national security, geopolitics, hybrid war.

scholarly journals TURKEY AND RUSSIA AS MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE BLACK SEA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Nuri Demirel
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Black Sea Region ◽  
The World ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Republic Of Turkey

Currently, the Republic of Turkey plays a vital role in international processes taking place on the world stage. Since ancient times, at the crossroads of the paths between the world of East and West, the Republic of Turkey claims to have an excellent position in the relations of these regions with each other, as well as in their internal processes and events. The universal location between Europe and Asia makes Turkish foreign policy one of its main political issues, especially in the field of regional cooperation. Moreover, the changes in the world of recent decades, such as the collapse of the USSR, revolutions and military operations in eastern countries, the transition of Crimea to Russia, lead to the fact that Turkey pursued its foreign policy thoughtfully and actively, taking the most advantageous positions for itself. An essential region for pursuing Turkish policy is the Black Sea region. The events of recent years have significantly affected him and the role that large states play in him, such as the Republic of Turkey and the Russian Federation. It also began to arouse great interest among states and regions of the Western world, such as the European Union. The changed geopolitical structure of the Black Sea region has led to the need for its members to determine their positions and areas of interaction in which they are ready to cooperate or, on the contrary, to oppose each other. In this article, the author will examine the relations of the Turkish Republic and the Russian Federation in the Black Sea region and its importance. In this study, political relations, security, economy, energy, and security will be discussed. In the conclusion of the study, the current state of Turkey-Russia relations and assessments will be made about its future.

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