B2952 - INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIA'S FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

Learning outcomes

This module aims at examining fundamental issues in Russia’s contemporary international relations and the making of Russian security policy. By the end of the module, students will be able to evaluate empirical and conceptual themes critically and to discuss and write competently about Russian foreign policy topics in the context of current events.

Course contents

This module will examine in-depth a range of key issues relevant to contemporary Russian foreign policy. The aim is to acquaint students with conceptual and empirical material within a broader international relations/politics framework. No prior specialist knowledge of these topics is needed, but students are encouraged to undertake independent study in order to gain a comprehensive appreciation of the issues we will deal with. The module complements that delivered by Dr Igor Gretskiy, ‘Russia, the EU and the Shared Neighbourhood’.

Thanks to this module, students will acquire a sound understanding of Russia’s role as an actor in regional and global affairs, its relations with external actors and key specific countries/regions. They will be able to evaluate key thematic aspects of Russian foreign and security policy in a contemporary context, analyse Russia’s role as a global power and the domestic factors underpinning this role, and reflect critically on how it interacts with other global actors. Students will gain an advanced understanding of conceptual and theoretical approaches relevant to the analysis of Russia’s approaches to global governance, international and regional institutions and structures, and will be able to apply them to conduct independent and advanced research on Russia in world affairs.

By the end of the module students should be able to:

• Apply international relations concepts to the study of Russian foreign policy
• Demonstrate a wide knowledge of key issue areas in Russia’s international relations
• Analyse critically official Russian thinking on current affairs

Synopsis:

1. From Soviet Union to Russian Federation: domestic sources of Russian foreign policy
2. Russia in international and regional organisations
3. Russia, NATO and European security
4. Russia and the US
5. Russia’s relations with China, India and Asia
6. Russia’s relations with the Middle East, Africa and Latin America
7. Foreign economic relations, including energy policy
8. Defence/military policy
9. Arms control and disarmament; conflict management and peacekeeping; terrorism
10. Asymmetrical/'hybrid' warfare and the ‘information war’

 

Readings/Bibliography

Key readings:

Connolly, R. (2019). Russia's Response to Sanctions: How Western Economic Statecraft is Reshaping Political Economy in Russia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Gel’man, V. (2015). Authoritarian Russia: Analyzing Post-Soviet Regime Changes. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press

Lo, Bobo (2015), Russia and the New World Disorder, Brookings Institution Press

Renz, B. (2018). Russia's Military Revival. Cambridge and Medford MA: Polity Press

Sakwa, R. (2017). Russia against the rest: The post-cold war crisis of world order. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Tsygankov, A. (2019), Russia’s Foreign Policy: Change and Continuity in National Identity 5th edition Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield

Other recommended reading:

Hill, F. and C.G. Gaddy (2013). Mr Putin: Operative in the Kremlin, Brooking Institution Press

Legvold, R. (ed.) (2007) Russian Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century and the Shadow of the Past, Studies of the Harriman Institute, Columbia University

Monaghan, A (2016), The new politics of Russia: Interpreting change, Manchester University Press

Plokhy, S. (2015) The Last Empire: The Final Days of the Soviet Union, New York: Basic Books

Robinson, N. ed. (2013), The political economy of Russia. Rowman & Littlefield

Further recommended readings for each lecture will be advised prior to the start of the course.

Teaching methods

This specialist module will be taught primarily in a lecture format but with in-class discussion based on questions/short statements prepared before each lecture by students using the lecture notes and readings, allowing ample time for discussion on key themes in Russian foreign policy.

Assessment methods

The assignment for this module will be a short essay or policy brief, the title(s) of which will be notified to students well in advance of submission date. The lecturer will also discuss the requirements for a good essay/policy brief with students prior to the assignment. The length will be 2500 words +/- 10%, including footnotes but excluding bibliography.

Attendance is mandatory. Students who do not attend at least 70% of classes will not be able to obtain the CFUs for this module.

Teaching tools

Power point, videos, documents, in-class interaction, Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Derek Lambton Averre