Americans views of Russian national interests in NATO enlargement

Abstract

This thesis focuses on official and unofficial American views of Russian national interests as revealed in the discussion about NATO enlargement. The thesis begins with a theoretical investigation of the concept of the national interest based on the approach of the realist school. Specifically, two positions are considered: namely, the power position and the security position. The thesis applies this theory to the discussion of Russian national interests in NATO enlargement. It reveals a host of attitudes behind official US policy some of them contradictory. These tell us interesting things about American attitudes toward Russia and about the motives behind US support for NATO enlargement. The thesis fosters a better understanding of the rationale behind US foreign policy toward Russia in general and regarding NATO enlargement in particular.