А. П. Изволски - нови идеи и приоритети на руската външна политика. 1905-1908 г.
A. P. Izvolski - New Ideas and Priorities of Russian Foreign Policy, 1905-1908

Summary/Abstract: The main purpose of the article is to examine Russian policy in the Balkans in the context of its intentions in regard to Europe and the Near East while revealing the full complexity of Russia's relations with her allies and her contradictions with the Triple Alliance and the Balkan states themselves. The author dwells upon a certain crucial period in Russian foreign policy orientation when after the failures in the Far East Russian diplomacy turned its attention to Europe and the Near East. That change of priorities was connected with the activities of Russian Foreign Minister A. P. Izvolski, who by breaking up the stereotypes that had for centuries cramped the foreign relations of Russian autocracy succeeded in enforcing the so called Eurocentric foreign policy course. But Izvolski overestimated the success gained in 1906 and 1907 in stabilizing the Russian state in the sphere of both internal and external policy, succumbed to undue euphoria and disregarded the objective principle of his recent policy. From the vitally important cares for preserving autocracy and securing internal peace, from the pursuit of a moderate foreign policy that would guarantee the achievement of the primary foreign policy goals, since the end of 1907 A. P. Izvolski turned his attention to the realization of an "extensive national programme". The failure to find, through a policy of trimming and mutual compromise, the point of balance in Russia's relations with England and Austria-Hungary and thus secure Vienna as the second point of support for the activation of Russian diplomacy in the realization of its goals in the Balkans inevitably led to new reorientation in the direction, approach and methods of Russian foreign policy, making it at the same time inconstant and often contradictory.

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