Russia’s new foreign policy
The Internal preconditions, 2011–2013
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The annexation of Crimea and the war against Ukraine are an indication that Russia’s political leadership is pursuing imperialist power politics. Politically, this has been in the making for some time. Paradoxically, the change of course began while Medvedev was president, when Putin, then Prime Minister, introduced a different strategy. As a result of the realignment of competences, the appointment of anti-liberal forces to positions of power and the promotion of national-imperialist and power state worldviews, he undermined the “liberal experiment” even while it was officially still being pursued. Instead of socio-economic modernisation of the country with the aid of the West, the militarisation of the economy and society turned against the West and the “liberal world”. This changed power relationship within the Russian elite is one of the main reasons for the change of course in domestic and foreign policy.
(Osteuropa 9-10/2017, pp. 89–108)