Russian Politics and Response to Globalization

‘Globalization is one of the central and yet most contentious issues of our age. Kochtcheeva expertly examines Russia’s ambivalent engagement with the phenomenon ... This important and timely study is an essential contribution to the study of Russian foreign policy, national identity and globalization.’

— Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European Politics, University of Kent, UK

‘This book is especially valuable in going beyond the neo-liberal discourse characteristic of most of the scholarship on globalization and employing a comparative historical context that offers a largely Russian, rather than Western perspective, on Russia’s domestic and international behavior. As such, it makes an important contribution to the literature on globalization and Russia, which is rich in insights and analytical assessments.’

— Jeanne Wilson, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Wheaton College, USA

‘This original volume provides us with a powerful interdisciplinary perspective on Russia’s attitude to globalization.’

— Stanislav L. Tkachenko, Professor of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University, Russia

This book analyzes the nature of Russia’s involvement with globalization. To date, Russia has mainly followed a course of selective openness governed by an increasingly strong state pursuing self-determination and its own vision of strategic objectives and forms of cooperation, rather than the projected reproduction of global convergence. It is also a country that is believed to be finding a new place and position for itself in the evolving global order, where European and American reflections shape the treatment of contemporary questions concerning Russia’s status in the world. The book highlights the problems and conflicts associated with political developments, democratization, economic reforms, and innovation, as well as societal perceptions and national identity formation.

The world is shifting, with Russia developing its own vision of global politics and cultivating a pragmatic strategy based on national interest, one that supports globalization where necessary and opposes it where conflicts of interest and values are inevitable.

Lada V. Kochtcheeva is an Associate Professor Political Science at North Carolina State University, USA. She has published one book, Comparative Environmental Regulation in the US and Russia, and multiple pieces on globalization, policy innovation, and the environment.