Internal Factors in Russian Foreign Policy

After the turmoil following the collapse of Soviet power, post-Communist Russia has emerged as an assertively independent force in international affairs. Meanwhile, an intense debate has been underway in Moscow about Russia's national interests and foreign policy priorities. Domestic political conflicts and the close ties with former Soviet partner states have made internal factors particularly particularly important in shaping Russian foreign policy. Internal Factors in Russian Foreign Policy is the first systematic analysis of the domestic political forces which condition the international behaviour of the new Russian state. Four leading specialists examine in turn the areas of foreign policy thinking and debate, how policy is made, the public politics of foreign policy and the role of the military. They explore the changing domestic alignments associated with recent shifts in Russian foreign policy, focusing on the roles played by institutions such as the Security Council and the legislature, by military groupings and by emerging economic interests. The authors throw new light on the domestic foundations of Moscow's more assertive and sef-reliant stance. This book is intended fo

This is an excellent book dealing with a subject area that has received far too little attention from western scholars. The immediate problem in dealing with such difficult terrain as the domestic sources of a country's foreign policy rests on the large number of these sources. This volume survey an impressive list of these in a clear, analytical and detailed style ... this book does admirable justice as one of the first to provide us with an insight into nearly the full range of domestic sources which shape Russian foreign policy. It is therefore a welcome addition to the study of post-Soviet Russian security policy., This handsomely-produced book brings together Britain's leading experts in the field of Russian foreign policy ... a major contribution to our understanding of Russian foreign policy. Each of the authors has used their profound knowledge of Russian affairs to the maximum, relying for information, to a large extent, on interviews with many of the key players in Russia., definitely not yet another loosely edited volume, but a collective work ... The authors have used a meaningful division of labour ... the analysis in the book is consistently thought-provoking, concise and enjoyable., This book is a must for those interested in recent Russian political developments. It provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of Russia's evolving foreign policy along with its domestic political evolution. ... The analysis of each period provides an interesting and valuable contribution to current Western debates on how external factors influence Russian domestic and foreign policies. ... another important contribution is the book's comprehensive analysis of the Russian military's role in foreign-policy decision-making., useful background information...the volume clearly shows how changing institutional features, instrumental and bureaucratic politics, and power struggles at the domestic level are very significant forces in influencing the direction of foreign policy. This book offers an impressivley detailed empirical analysis that traces the domestic roots of foreign policy during these important formative years. The volume can be highly recommended.