SUİ340

School of Economics and Administrative Sciences \ Political Science and International Relations

3

6

Elective

English

-

This course is an elective for students of the Department of Political Science and International Relations. A limited number of students from other departments may also take it as an elective course.

More than thirty years have passed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Russian Federation emerged as the main inheritor of the Soviet Union and pursued various foreign policy strategies toward the former Soviet republics and global actors (the US, the EU, European states, and China).

This course will analyze the evolution of Russian foreign policy over the past thirty years.

Nicolas K. Gvosdev and C.Marsh, Russian Foreign Policy: Interests, Vectors and Sectors
(London: Sage Publications, 2014).

Edward Lucas, The New Cold War: Putin’s Russia and the Threat to the West (NY: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2008).

Natalia Tsvetkova (ed.) Russia and the World: Understanding International Relations
(Maryland: Lexington Books, 2017).

Roger Kanet and Piet. R. (eds.) Shifting Priorities in Russia’s Foreign and Security Policy
(Surrey: Ashgate, 2014).

Jakob Hedenskog, V.Konnander et.al. (eds.) Russia as a Great Power: Dimensions of Security
under Putin (NY: Routledge, 2005).

Andrey Kozyrev, “The Lagging Partnership” Foreign Affairs, May -Jun., 1994, Vol. 73, No. 3
pp. 59-71.

Rumer & Wallender, “Russia: Power in Weakness” Washington Quarterly, 27:1, pp.57-73.

Steven Pifer, “What does Russia Want, How do we respond?” Brookings Institution, 2009

Paul Dibb, “The Bear is back” The American Interest, 2:2, 2006.
Dmitry Trenin, “Russia Leaves the West”, Foreign Affairs, July/August 2006.

This course aims to analyze how the foreign policy of the Russian Federation has evolved over the thirty years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. As the main inheritor of the Soviet Union, Russia has developed different foreign policy approaches toward the former Soviet republics and global actors such as the United States, the European Union, European states, and China.

Throughout this course, students will examine the key trajectories of Russian foreign policy, its security priorities, and its position within the international system. Additionally, the course will address the challenges of the post-Soviet transition, assessing Russia’s relations with both the West and the East, its ties with former Soviet republics, and its efforts to reestablish its great power status.

By the end of the course, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of Russian foreign policy, while also enhancing their analytical thinking and academic writing skills.

1. Students will have a general understanding of the main trajectories of Russian foreign policy since 1991.
2. Students will acquire basic introductory knowledge of significant issue areas in Russian foreign policy.
3. Students will develop a strong understanding of the challenges of the post-Soviet transition.
4. Oral and written skills will be enhanced through active participation and coursework.

Week 1: Understanding the Soviet Legacy
Week 2: Russian Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Period
Week 3: Priorities of Russian Foreign and Security Policy
Week 4: Is Russia a Great Power?
Week 5: Russia’s Changing Foreign Policy Priorities
Week 6: Russia and the West
Week 7: Midterm Week
Week 8: Russia and the West (Continued)
Week 9: Russia and the East
Week 10: Russia and the Former Soviet Republics
Week 11: Russia and the Former Soviet Republics (Continued)
Week 12: Final Review and Conclusion

• Participation 10 %
• Class discussions 20 %
• Midterm 30 %
• Final 40 %