Mehmet Çağatay Güler

This research explores the trends in Moscow’s diplomacy in relation to its overall strategy. In this context, it aims to investigate the evolution and construction of Vladimir Putin’s grand strategy between 2000 and 2023. To accomplish this, the article utilizes computer-assisted data analysis, specifically computer-aided thematic analysis (Atlas.ti). Hereby, 577 official speech transcripts were analyzed. To this end, the speeches under the categories of “Addresses to the Federal Assembly” and “Statements on Major Issues” have been collected to reveal the strategic logic behind Russian actions and behavior. The findings reveal that Putin’s grand strategy revolves around making Russia a center of influence and achieving a global power status, which this study conceptualizes as the “Glory to the Motherland.” In this context, reclaiming deserved status, counterbalancing Western hegemony, inventing multipolarity, and the security and preservation of the sphere of influence of the fatherland surfaced as the focuses for reversing Russia’s weakness experienced during the 1990s.

Russian foreign policy is a popular subject on which scholars have lately conducted much research. The current stage of these studies is competent in explaining various aspects of Russian foreign policy. Yet, considering both earlier and more recent works, there seems to be a trend of focusing solely on the post-Soviet era. Relatedly, the majority of the current literature adopts perspectives that analyze the period after Vladimir Putin’s rise to power. Moreover, almost all of the prominent and relatively less-cited research takes a leader-oriented approach. Hence, despite the satisfying heft of the current literature, there still is a gap regarding the Soviet legacy behind Russia’s foreign policy orientations. In other words, although most of the components and goals of Moscow’s foreign policy have been previously covered, the role of Soviet history/the Soviet mindset remains vague. To this end, this review article thoroughly analyzes the four selected books and engages with their contributions in terms of defining the role of the Soviet legacy in Russian foreign policy formulations.

Overall, the book contains significant information and analysis regarding the Russia’s seizure of Crimea and hybrid war in Eastern Ukraine. It is a must-read for anyone who works on Russia, foreign policy and security policy. Its strengths clearly overshadow the minor questions that comes in mind.