Description
Ivanov (First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia) offers an overview of the present contours of Russian foreign policy. After a brief consideration of the development of Russian foreign policy from the days of the Russian Empire and the general political situation facing the world in the post-Cold War era, he discusses Russian relations with its immediate neighbors, Europe, the United States, Asia and the Pacific Basin, the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. As a current government official the book reflects the positions of the Russian government almost as much as those of the author. The core of this work was translated from the Russian work Novadi8a diplomatidi8a . For this English edition the discussion of the U.S.-Russian relationship has been updated. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Read More
In this frank and engaging book, foreign minister Igor S. Ivanov describes the evolution of Russian foreign policy since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Drawing on Russia's long diplomatic history, Ivanov analyzes the complex process through which a newly democratic Russia has redefined its foreign policy during a volatile transformation over the last decade. The book includes the text of Russia's Foreign Policy Concept, a Putin administration document that guides the day-to-day activities of the government. Designed to provide the world community with a transparent outline of Russia's foreign policy agenda, the Concept attempts to balance Russia's important role in the new world order with internal pressures to focus on domestic stability. The radical transformation of the past decade has required a complete overhaul of the process by which foreign policy is crafted, implemented, and communicated, according to Ivanov. The Concept delineates the role of parliament in making foreign policy decisions, the interrelationship of the legislative and executive branches, and the apportionment of authority among the president, government, and regional authorities. It also stresses the need to renovate Russia's diplomatic service, whose tradition of professionally trained diplomats dates back to Peter the Great. While acknowledging the impulse to recreate foreign policy from scratch during periods of revolutionary change and radical reform, Ivanov stresses the theoretical and practical importance of continuity. Although the modern political system of the Russian Federation has no analogue in Russian history, Ivanov draws compelling connections between the country's contemporary challenges and the rich legacy of Russian and Soviet diplomacy—in the process invoking the political philosophies of historical Russian leaders from ancient Rus' to Alexander Gorchakov. The New Russian Diplomacy was originally published in Russia, where it received very favorable reviews. This volume is a special edition prepared for American readers with a new introduction and an expanded and updated discussion of the U.S.-Russian relationship.
Read Less