“It is wrong to make anyone into an enemy; it is wrong to scare the people of one 's own country with that enemy and try to rally some allies on that basis. What we need is to work openly and honestly on solutions to the problem. We want that and we are ready for that.”
-Vladimir Putin, August 29 2008, CNN interview
Introduction Russia is one of the greatest countries in the Europe and played important role in many events of modern history. After centuries of consolidating its power in the region the Russian empire was tested in multitude of world changing events starting with Napoleonic wars, transformation during Great War and finally forming into ideological body to define Cold War world. After almost unprecedented expansion came quick fall. The old Soviet Union succumbed to its structural deficiencies, with all its peripheries and client states quickly looking out for their own interest. For most of its existence the land where Russia lies was cloaked in mystery and speculation. There have been plentiful production of the books and journals describing its development, but very few who could fully explain what is the ultimate drive behind Russian people. During spring of 2014 Ukraine was embroiled in yet another public unrest, stirred up by chronic political instability of this Eastern European country. Controversial, and generally perceived as pro-Russian president Yanukovych became focal point for anger of the public. At that time, he was entering the 4th year of his presidency and just few years prior, in 2012, his Party of Regions managed to assert control over government in parliamentary elections. (Motyl 2015, p58) In the fast development, the relationship with Europe soured, resulting in Ukraine pulling out of association talks with EU. The general public in Kiev was in disagreement with the governments move and the impasse devolved into open uprising. In fast development of events, the governance in capital collapsed and the president was eventually forced to flee to Moscow. In the years preceding latest colored revolution in Ukraine, Russian government was slowly consolidating control in Kremlin. President and former prime minister Putin with his political partner Medvedev were slowly wrestling the economical control from the hands of oligarchs until the key sectors of the national production were under control of central government. (Luxmoore 2014, p81) The most apparent result of the aggressive centralization was reassertion of Russia as political and military powerhouse it once was. When reviewing the political development, there can be found certain traces of structure to the eccentricity of latest decisions in Moscow. Plenty of information steadily available to seemingly explain all what has been happening, but it is very very rare to find detailed work which would tie all of this together. (Rose 1998, p145) There have been few attempts to formulate Russian long term national strategy, its ultimate goal and what drives it. (Monaghan 2013, p1223-25) Most of the authors generally agree with general interpretation that the strategy of Kremlin is reassertion of its global position. There is ongoing trend of connecting all the controversial situations involving Russia as a string of individual events, but lacking inclusive explanation of what is proper driving element for such a behavior and what results are truly to be expected by Russian nation. By …show more content…
The paper is trying to draw the line between decisions in Kremlin and results in distinct locations in Russian Federation (Thumann 2001, p194) The development in Chechnya and republic of Sakha are presented examples of Yeltsin administration, the results are attributed to his leadership and his popularity with Russian minorities. (Thumann 2001, p196) Most of the article focuses on individual leadership styles with limited respect to the other influences and the accomplishments or shortcomings are being centered on character or personal commitment. (Thumann 2001, p195-197) Important background information can be found when the author compares the styles of Yeltsin versus his heir to be Putin. (Thumann 2001, p197) Whilst Yeltsin did not push for the national idea, Putin 's government started following one almost immediately. One of the key moves under Putin was also beginning of centralization of government and economy (Thumann 2001, p196-198), which could be perceived as one of the signs to be analyzed under neoclassical realism approach. (Rose 1998,
-Vladimir Putin, August 29 2008, CNN interview
Introduction Russia is one of the greatest countries in the Europe and played important role in many events of modern history. After centuries of consolidating its power in the region the Russian empire was tested in multitude of world changing events starting with Napoleonic wars, transformation during Great War and finally forming into ideological body to define Cold War world. After almost unprecedented expansion came quick fall. The old Soviet Union succumbed to its structural deficiencies, with all its peripheries and client states quickly looking out for their own interest. For most of its existence the land where Russia lies was cloaked in mystery and speculation. There have been plentiful production of the books and journals describing its development, but very few who could fully explain what is the ultimate drive behind Russian people. During spring of 2014 Ukraine was embroiled in yet another public unrest, stirred up by chronic political instability of this Eastern European country. Controversial, and generally perceived as pro-Russian president Yanukovych became focal point for anger of the public. At that time, he was entering the 4th year of his presidency and just few years prior, in 2012, his Party of Regions managed to assert control over government in parliamentary elections. (Motyl 2015, p58) In the fast development, the relationship with Europe soured, resulting in Ukraine pulling out of association talks with EU. The general public in Kiev was in disagreement with the governments move and the impasse devolved into open uprising. In fast development of events, the governance in capital collapsed and the president was eventually forced to flee to Moscow. In the years preceding latest colored revolution in Ukraine, Russian government was slowly consolidating control in Kremlin. President and former prime minister Putin with his political partner Medvedev were slowly wrestling the economical control from the hands of oligarchs until the key sectors of the national production were under control of central government. (Luxmoore 2014, p81) The most apparent result of the aggressive centralization was reassertion of Russia as political and military powerhouse it once was. When reviewing the political development, there can be found certain traces of structure to the eccentricity of latest decisions in Moscow. Plenty of information steadily available to seemingly explain all what has been happening, but it is very very rare to find detailed work which would tie all of this together. (Rose 1998, p145) There have been few attempts to formulate Russian long term national strategy, its ultimate goal and what drives it. (Monaghan 2013, p1223-25) Most of the authors generally agree with general interpretation that the strategy of Kremlin is reassertion of its global position. There is ongoing trend of connecting all the controversial situations involving Russia as a string of individual events, but lacking inclusive explanation of what is proper driving element for such a behavior and what results are truly to be expected by Russian nation. By …show more content…
The paper is trying to draw the line between decisions in Kremlin and results in distinct locations in Russian Federation (Thumann 2001, p194) The development in Chechnya and republic of Sakha are presented examples of Yeltsin administration, the results are attributed to his leadership and his popularity with Russian minorities. (Thumann 2001, p196) Most of the article focuses on individual leadership styles with limited respect to the other influences and the accomplishments or shortcomings are being centered on character or personal commitment. (Thumann 2001, p195-197) Important background information can be found when the author compares the styles of Yeltsin versus his heir to be Putin. (Thumann 2001, p197) Whilst Yeltsin did not push for the national idea, Putin 's government started following one almost immediately. One of the key moves under Putin was also beginning of centralization of government and economy (Thumann 2001, p196-198), which could be perceived as one of the signs to be analyzed under neoclassical realism approach. (Rose 1998,