Russia

Question 1

From 1922 onwards, Soviet FP had two primary goals…

Answer 1

1. Recovery of lands lost -> Finland, Baltic States… to form a defensive buffer against Western invasion
2. Abolishment of states + replacement w. socialist commonwealth governed by Russia

Question 2

Soviet leaders maintained their FP was based on…

Answer 2

Marxism-Leninism

Question 3

What was Marxism-Leninism?

Answer 3

Idea that war + conflict would only disappear when the entire world had become socialist

Question 4

Soviet Foreign Policy was…

Answer 4

• Aggressive
• Defensive
• Had an imperial drive

Question 5

What happened to Marxism-Leninism when communism fell?

Answer 5

When communism fell, Marxism-Leninism was completely discredited

Question 6

What happened to Russian FP without Marxism-Leninism?

Answer 6

• Difficult to conceptualise FP without a pervasive ideology
• Exacerbated by struggle to achieve sense of national identity following disintegration of USSR

Question 7

What was expected of Russia at the end of the Cold War?

Answer 7

Expected to

• Accept rules + norms of Western states
• Adhere to West’s solidarist version of international society

Question 8

What did the West seek to do to the Russian economy and what was the effect?

Answer 8

West sought to open the Russian economy up to investment

But these reforms saw a radical worsening of inequality in Russian society

Question 9

Why did Russia elect Putin?

Answer 9

With Russia weakened, it felt it needed a strong leader to restore Russian greatness

Question 10

What was Putin’s ascendance to power accompanied by?

Answer 10

• Economic recovery

- More assertive stance in its FP

Question 11

What kind of international society was Russia increasingly seen as a supporter of?

Answer 11

Russia was increasingly seen as a supporter of a pluralist vision of society

One characterised by

• limited cooperation
• respect for sovereignty + non-intervention

Question 12

Russia’s support for a pluralist vision of society is paradoxical. What does it cherish on the global scale?

Answer 12

On the global scale, Russia cherishes norms of sovereignty + non-intervention

Question 13

What is Russia willing to do regionally that contradicts the pluralist vision of society?

Answer 13

Russia has been ready + willing to undermine the sovereignty of states by:

• Attempting to establish sphere of influence
• Waging wars on humanitarian grounds
• Policy borders

Question 14

Why has Russia established the Eurasian Union?

Answer 14

• Integrationist idea -> increasing Russia’s sphere of influence
• Aim: to match EU
• Expected to diminish mistrust smaller states feel towards Russia
• Adoption of European model suggests desire for equal status w. western states, despite anti-west rhetoric

Question 15

What does the Eurasian Union entail?

Answer 15

• Integrated single market

- Free movement of goods, capital, services and people

Question 16

What view of society does the Eurasian Union reflect?

Answer 16

To some extent a solidarist approach

Question 17

How has Russia often legitimised its engagement in conflict?

Answer 17

• In terms of ‘international peacekeeping’
• But conflict prevention hasn’t always been its aim
• Intervention has often resulted in disputes freezing rather than being resolved

Question 18

What event was a clear violation of pluralist norms?

Answer 18

The occupation + subsequent annexation of Crimea (part of sovereign territory of Ukraine)

Active support for separist forces + military intrusions of Russian troops on Ukraine soil

Question 19

What was the pretext of Russia’s annexation of Crimea?

Answer 19

Pretext of protecting Russian-speaking population -> little evidence as to what that threat might be

Question 20

Has Russia become more nationalistic in its foreign policy?

Answer 20

Yes - Russia has become more nationalistic, especially in its struggle to define national identity

Question 21

Why has Russia become more nationalistic?

Answer 21

As a means of asserting themselves + finding a place on the world stage

Question 22

What has happened as Putin has solidified power?

Answer 22

• Increasingly has centralised political + economic power
• Has appropriated Russian cultural + historical symbols to help build support
• To emphasise a shared sense of Russian nationalism
• FP increasingly followed patterns of autocracy + paternalism

Question 23

Why does Putin believe a powerful leader is necessary for Russia?

Answer 23

• Outsiders have historically threatened Russia
• Russia has always been betrayed by the west
• Only a powerful leader could ensure a stable Russia

Question 24

What is Russia unwilling to do?

Answer 24

See its neighbours grow powerful

Orient with the west

Question 25

Who was the attack against 2016 presidential election aimed at and what was its message?

Answer 25

• As much aimed at Russian citizens as international community
• Message to Russians: Putin is a respected + feared force on world stage -> they should be in awe of his power

Question 26

Why has Putin repeatedly attacked multiculturalism, immigration + gay marriage?

Answer 26

Attacks on multiculturalism, immigration + gay marriage meant to showcase traditional Russian values