Russia`s Pivot to the East

2023/2024

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Mago-Lego

Delivered by: School of International Regional Studies

When: 1, 2 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Olga Krasnyak

Language: English

ECTS credits: 6

Contact hours: 40

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The purpose of this course is to introduce students with one of the concepts of Russia's foreign policy namely "Pivot to Asia". In the current change in the geopolitical architecture, the concept acquires the features of the basic politico-economic, civilisational, and cultural politics of contemporary Russia. The three main approaches contemplate Russia's Pivot to Asia: (1) the development of the Siberia and Russia's Far East, (2) diversification of trade balance towards South-, South-East, and North-East Asia, and (3) the development and implementation of idea of the Greater Eurasia in Russian foreign policy.

Learning Objectives

The goal of this course is to introduce and analyse the strategic conception of Russia's foreign policy in terms of its development towards the East. Broadly defined, such a direction is starting to play a pivotal role in Russian internal and external affairs. The term "East" includes not only the Asian countries with whom Russia steadily tightens the relation, yet it also includes Russia's geographical East - Siberia and the Far East where socio-economic development became of the priorities of the country's national policy. The course underlines the importance of the context of the global affairs which geopolitical architecture is undergo.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Explains the “Russia’s Pivot to the East” within the foreign policy concept
Comprehends the triangularity of the directions of Russia’s approach to the East
Better understands the instruments of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy in promoting Russia’s foreign policy goals
Formulates and explains the concepts of geopolitical and geo-strategic interests in the context of global affairs
Analyses the means and ends of Russia’s economic and politico-military cooperation with other nation-states
Formulates the idea of “Big Eurasia.”
Analyses potential scenarios of the future architecture of the Eurasian continent and its implications on global affairs.

Course Contents

Theme 1. Historical aspects Russia’s foreign policy within the framework of the changing environment of the international world order.
Theme 2. Looking within: Development intensification of Siberia and Russia’s Far East.
Theme 3. Looking outward: Bilateral diplomacy, Asian markets, trade balance diversification.
Theme 4. International organisations and the potential of multilateral diplomacy.
Theme 5. Asian flashpoints: Taiwan, South-China Sea, East-China Sea, DPRK
Theme 6. The concept of “Big Eurasia” within the framework of geo-strategic, geo-political, and geo-economic self-determination of Russia.

Assessment Elements

Attendance of lectures
Active participation in seminar discussions
Final exam in a form of discussion

Interim Assessment

2023/2024 учебный год 2 модуль
0.3 * Active participation in seminar discussions + 0.2 * Attendance of lectures + 0.5 * Final exam in a form of discussion

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Sergey Karaganov. (2018). The new Cold War and the emerging Greater Eurasia. Journal of Eurasian Studies, (2), 85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euras.2018.07.002
Tsygankov, A. P. (2019). Russia’s Foreign Policy : Change and Continuity in National Identity (Vol. Fifth edition). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2031489

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Karaganov, S. (2018). The new Cold War and the emerging Greater Eurasia. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.8B2DA7B3

Course Syllabus