Geopolitical Rivalries in the “Common Neighborhood” : Russia's Conflict with the West, Soft Power, and Neoclassical Realism / Vasif Huseynov, Andreas Umland, Nicholas Ross Smith

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Huseynov, Vasif, Author.

Contributor:

Umland, Andreas, Editor.

Ross Smith, Nicholas, Author of introduction, etc.

Series:

Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society 214

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Russia.

conflict.

Soft Power.

Politics.

Neoclassical Realism.

Russland.

Konflikt.

Politik.

Local Subjects:

Russia.

conflict.

Soft Power.

Politics.

Neoclassical Realism.

Russland.

Konflikt.

Politik.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (289 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Hannover ibidem 2019

Biography/History:

The author: Dr. Vasif Huseynov studied International Relations, Political Economy, and Political Science in Baku, Kassel, and Göttingen. His research has been supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Since 2018, he has been a Research Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies and Lecturer in Politics at the Khazar University at Baku. His articles have appeared in, among other outlets, Caucasus International, CES Working Papers, and Eastern Journal of European Studies. The author of the foreword: Dr. Nicholas Ross Smith is Assistant Professor of International Studies at The University of Nottingham Ningbo, China.

Summary:

This timely book analyses ‘soft power’ in the light of neoclassical realist premises as part of the foreign policy toolkit of great powers to expand their sphere of influence. Vasif Huseynov argues that if nuclear armed great powers compete against the same type of powers to expand or sustain their sphere of influence over a populated region, they use soft power as a major expansive instrument while military power remains a tool to defend themselves and back up their foreign policies. Presenting his model of soft power, the author explores the role of soft power projection by great powers in the formation of the external alignment of regional states. He focuses on the rivalries between Russia and the West (i.e. the EU and the USA) over the states located between the EU and Russia (the region known as the “common [or shared] neighborhood”) and on two of these regional states (Ukraine and Belarus) to test his hypotheses.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

List of Figures

List of Tables

1. Introduction

Literature Review and Research Gap

Theoretical Argument

Structure of the Book

2. Analytical Framework

Realism: Neoclassical Realism

(Neoclassical) Realism on Great Power Rivalries

(Neoclassical) Realism on the Foreign Policy of Regional States amidst Great Power Rivalries

Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

State Autonomy across Different Variables

Soft Power

Historical Review on Soft Power

Soft Power in Theoretical Writings

Soft Power in Practice

Reconceptualization of Soft Power

State-Managed Projection

Soft Power vs. Hard Power

Case Selection

The Russia-West Confrontation over the "Common Neighbourhood"

The "Common Neighbourhood" States

Conclusion

3. Soft Power in Western Foreign Policies (2004-2016)

Soft Power vs. Hard Power in Policies of Western Powers

Soft Power as the Western Foreign Policy Tool

Self-Projection

Narratives

International Broadcasting

Cultural Diplomacy and Exchange Programmes

Western NGOs and Support for Civil Society

American Non-Governmental Organizations

European Non-Governmental Organizations

Foreign Aid

American Assistance

European Assistance

Limitations of the Western Soft Power Policies

4. Soft Power in Russia's Practice (2004-2016)

Soft Power vs. Hard Power in Russia's Policies

Soft Power as Russia's Foreign Policy Tool

Academic Exchange Programs

Russia's NGOs and Support to Civil Society

Economic Ties and Foreign Aid

Limitations of Russian Soft Power

5. States with Relatively Strong State Autonomy: The Case of Belarus

Belarus Between the West and Russia.

State Autonomy Vis-à-vis Non-State Actors

Non-State Actors under the Influence of External Powers

Non-State Actors under the Influence of Russian Soft Power

Non-State Actors under the Influence of Western Soft Power

Non-State Actors and External Alignment

6. States with Relatively Weak State Autonomy: The Case of Ukraine

Ukraine Between the West and Russia

State Autonomy Vis-à-vis Non-State Actors

Non-State Actors under the Influence of Western Soft Power Projection

7. Conclusions

The Puzzle and Theoretical Arguments

Empirical Findings

Implications for Theory

Bibliography.

ISBN:

9783838272771

3838272773

Publisher Number:

9783838272771