Continuity or Change in Russian Foreign Policy?

Abstract

The world is being transformed as a result of a completely new geopolitical reality: the shift of the economical and political power from the West to the East. We are witnessing China’s increasing strength and the foreseeable decline of the United States of America. In recent years, Russia reaffirmed its ambitions of becoming a super power, generating with that multiple alterations in a world which is living deep changes and transformations. In a very short period (less than ten years) this deeply indebted country became a symbol of the transfer and redistribution of the world production in the direction of Asia, of the fundamental changes in the energetic resources control and of the “authoritarian” capitalism development. As a consequence, Moscow is showing its independent foreign policy and is strongly determined to defend its national interests. This work presents a short chronology of the evolution of the Russian foreign policy from its birth as an independent nation to the present date, an analysis of its current strategy where the national interests are a priority, and it looks for the conformation of a multipolar model in international relations. Today Russia is a competitor, a partner and an opponent, and it aspires to play key role in the new world order.