Russia Redefines Itself and Its Relations with the West

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2007

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Russian foreign policy’s modern-day motives are completely dissimilar to those of the recent

Soviet and the more distant czarist past. Whereas the empire was predominantly about Eurasian

geopolitics and the Soviet Union promoted a global ideological as well as political project backed up

by military power, Russia’s business is Russia itself. Seen from a different angle, Russia’s

business is business. In stark contrast to its Soviet past, postimperial Russia stands among the

least ideological countries around the world. Ideas hardly matter, whereas interests reign supreme. It

is not surprising then that the worldview of Russian elites is focused on financial interests. Their

practical deeds in fact declare “In capital we trust.” Values are secondary or tertiary issues, and

even traditional military power is hardly appealing. Fluctuating energy prices, not nuclear warheads,

are what really matter to Moscow.