Sources of contemporary Russian foreign policy

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to systematically employ two explanatory theories for the study of foreign policy and to test the two theories against one another to determine their explanatory power. This thesis investigates Russian Federation foreign policy regarding three contemporary issues, the "near abroad," the Kurillslands dispute, and the current Bosnian conflict, by conducting an analysis of Russian policy statements and doctrine in the period from the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Russian Federation on 1 January 1992 until August 1994. The analysis is based on hypotheses that seek to explain Russian foreign policy decisions, with reference to two theories: the concept of balance of power that emerges from political realism and the more recently developed concept of "strategic culture."