Russia and Near Abroad. Past and Present
Russia and Near Abroad. Past and Present

Author(s): Jakub Kulhánek
Subject(s): Post-Communist Transformation
Published by: AMO – Asociace pro mezinárodní otázky
Keywords: Post-Soviet Russia;
Summary/Abstract: In this paper, an attempt will be made to analyze Russian policy and its motives and goals vis-à-vis the post-Soviet region. The author of this paper believes that in so doing it might help to reveal the true nature of Russian policy towards its neighbors. First, this paper will present an overview of basic developments in Russian policy towards the ‘near abroad’. Second, it will explore current trends in Russian CIS policy. Furthermore, it will define major political, security and economic concerns for Russia in the ‘near abroad’ and how they might be reflected in Russian CIS policy making. The demise of the Soviet Union presented the new Russian leadership with a myriad of political, economic and security challenges in its neighborhood. Ethnic and religious conflicts threatened to destabilize parts of post-Soviet space with possible spillovers into Russian territory. Worse still, the Russian army which was scattered across the former Soviet Union was being gradually dragged into various local conflicts. Looming economic crisis was made even worse by the high level of interdependency between former Soviet republics.

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