1. APPLY THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TO RUSSIAN FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY. Knowledge and Learning

2. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND A WIDE UNDERSTANDING OF THE KEY ISSUE AREAS OF RUSSIA’S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Knowledge and Learning

3. DEVELOP ANALYTICAL SKILLS THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT AND CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF OFFICIAL RUSSIAN THINKING ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Analysis, Enquiry, Learning, Problem Solving, Reflection

4. PROVIDE WELL-RESEARCHED AND DEVELOPED PIECES OF WORK IN APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC STYLE Application and Communication

The participation grade encourages engaged and consistent learning. This builds up subject-knowledge as well as enhancing communication and analysis skills (LOs 1&2).

The critical review is an evaluation of an article relevant to the module’s subject area. It is designed to develop analysis and reflection skills (LOs 3&4) .

The essay is designed to enhance practical research skills (problem-solving and application). It will also require an in-depth study of an area of Russian Foreign and Security Policy (enquiry; knowledge and learning; analysis) (LOs 1-4).

This module examines Russian foreign policy since the end of the Cold War up to the present day, and invites students to explore the following questions: How does Russia view the world? What does Russia want and how will it achieve these aims? What is Russia’s perception of itself in the world and does this match reality? Does the West remain a reference point in Russia’s foreign policy thinking? The module begins by introducing students to the different ways Russian foreign policy has been theorised in International Relations. It then outlines the formation of several foreign policy perspectives across Russia’s political spectrum and examines the roles of domestic actors in foreign policy decision-making. Following this, the course interrogates Russia’s interaction with its external environment, including its relationship with the EU, NATO, the OSCE, the US, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, China and the non-West, and several international organisations. The module then examines Russia’s approach to a number of policy areas and global security issues, including information and ‘hybrid’ warfare, regional conflicts, emerging non-traditional security challenges, energy security, and intervention and human rights. Finally, students will be expected to consider the future of Russia’s foreign policy direction.

The main focus will be on self-instruction, within a tightly structured framework and relying largely (but not exclusively) on materials supplied. Week by week students will work through self-instructional course material (delivered via blackboard), which provides the framework and focus for reading key texts and papers and undertaking the specific tasks set. This work will be undertaken on an individual basis, but students will be expected to interact and share material and ideas with other students in their learning group and their tutor.

Kanet, Roger E., (2019) (ed), Routledge Handbook of Russian Security, 1st Edition, Routledge, London

Andrei P. Tsygankov (2019) (ed), Routledge Handbook of Russian Foreign Policy, 1st Edition, Routledge, London

Andrei O. Tsygankov (2019), Russia’s Foreign Policy: Change and Continuity in National Identity, Fifth Edition, Rowman and Littlefield, London

Bobo Lo (2015), Russia and the New World Disorder, Brookings Institution Press

Cadier, D., and Light, M., (2015) (eds), Russia's Foreign Policy: Ideas, Domestic Politics and External Relations, Palgrave Macmillan

Richard Sakwa, Russia Against the Rest: The Post-Cold War Crisis of World Order, Oxford University Press, UK

Jeffrey Mankoff, Russian Foreign Policy: The Return of Great Power Politics, 2nd Edition, Council on Foreign Relations

Students’ own textbooks; supplied course packs of readings; e-books; e-journals; relevant websites.
Blackboard VLE
Computer with internet access

This module examines Russian foreign policy since the end of the Cold War up to the present day, and invites students to explore the following questions: How does Russia view the world? What does Russia want and how will it achieve these aims? What is Russia’s perception of itself in the world and does this match reality? Does the West remain a reference point in Russia’s foreign policy thinking? The module begins by introducing students to the different ways Russian foreign policy has been theorised in International Relations. It then outlines the formation of several foreign policy perspectives across Russia’s political spectrum and examines the roles of domestic actors in foreign policy decision-making. Following this, the course interrogates Russia’s interaction with its external environment, including its relationship with the EU, NATO, the OSCE, the US, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, China and the non-West, and several international organisations. The module then examines Russia’s approach to a number of policy areas and global security issues, including information and ‘hybrid’ warfare, regional conflicts, emerging non-traditional security challenges, energy security, and intervention and human rights. Finally, students will be expected to consider the future of Russia’s foreign policy direction.