Description

Russia has been an important player in International Relations already for more than a thousand years. After the collapse of Soviet Union and creation of modern Russia, relations between the West and Russia once again are becoming a main concern for media correspondence and IR analysts. Parties disagree in crucial topics such as Kosovo, Iran, human rights, energy supplies and weapon control. In 2008 Great Brittan s Foreign Ministry has announced that Russia is undemocratic. Do these late events indicate a beginning of New Cold War? Or it is just misconception of the West regarding Russia s democratization process? One thing is clear: there are changes in Russia, and the West should consider having appropriate foreign policy in response. This book will look to modern Russia from a historical perspective in order to better understand its future, as well as suggest way how the west should react to this reappearing power. It is based on four questions constructed into four chapters: Who Russians are?; Where Russia is now?; Where Russia is going?; What does it mean for rest of the west? This analysis will help any interested party to understand why Russia is the way it is.