Challenging America's Global Preeminence: Russia's Quest for Multipolarity

by Ambrosio,Thomas

• ISBN13: 9780754642893
• ISBN10: 0754642895
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-04-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Examining the shifts in Russian foreign policy and their potential impact on the status and influence of the United States in the international system, this outstanding volume examines why the Kremlin initially sought an alliance with the United States and the internal and external reasons why such a policy was unsustainable. In particular, it looks for an explanation for the post-Cold War vacillations in Russian foreign policy. Russia made several decisions which were perceived domestically as being unacceptable capitulations to American interests. Consequently, a pro-Western foreign policy became incompatible with Russian political culture. The rapprochement following 9/11 was destined to be temporary due to the decision by the Bush administration to invade Iraq.Contributing to the fields of international relations and comparative foreign policy, this study provides a fresh approach to the balance/bandwagon issue and takes into account the global repercussions of the recent war in Iraq. It will be of particular value to specialists in Russian foreign policy, international relations theory, and US foreign policy.

Table of Contents

List of Figure and Tables	vi
List of Abbreviations	vii
Preface	viii
About the Author	xi
1 Russian Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era	1	(9)
2 Theoretical Framework: To Balance or Bandwagon?	10	(19)
3 Russia Reborn and Contested	29	(22)
4 Rejecting the Hegemonic Coalition	51	(27)
5 Forming an Anti-Hegemonic Coalition	78	(22)
6 Multipolarity through International Institutions	100	(29)
7 Russian-American Relations after September 11th	129	(20)
8 The Iraq Crisis and the Return to Multipolarity	149	(13)
9 Russia, Multipolarity, and the Costs of Bandwagoning	162	(19)
Bibliography	181	(10)
Index	191