PSC 336—Russian Foreign Policy

This course considers historical patterns in Russian foreign policy, what factors motivate Russian actions in world affairs, and selected contemporary problems in Russian international politics. To fully understand Russian foreign policy, one must first understand the nature of domestic politics in Russia, so the course starts by exploring the ideologies, institutions, and leaders who have shaped Russia from the Tsarist period of the 19th century to the modern society under Putin. The course then develops the student?s understanding of current Russian foreign policy by comparing Russia to other major powers, contrasting their national security interests and domestic policy challenges as a means of identifying the factors that differentiate their policy choices. Students are exposed to leading theories of foreign policy choice and how those theories apply to the Russian case, illustrated with examples from recent events in international politics.