The Influence of the Domestic Situation on Russia’s Foreign Policy
The Influence of the Domestic Situation on Russia’s Foreign Policy

Author(s): Jakub Benedyczak
Subject(s): Governance, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Politics and society, Social development, Sociology of Politics
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Russian Federation; foreign policy; international relations; government; social dissatisfaction; socio-economic stagnation
Summary/Abstract: The increasing dissatisfaction of the Russians due to the deteriorating socio-economic situation in their country has resulted in declining support for President Vladimir Putin and the government of Dmitry Medvedev. To strengthen their position, the authorities may be more inclined towards confrontational foreign policy, which corresponds to the great-power ambitions of Russian society. If so, the EU might expect more intensive actions aimed at weakening its unity, and for Poland specifically (indicated in the polls of the Russian public as one of their country’s greatest enemies) there could be a continuation of the campaign that disavows its “anti-Russian” foreign and historical policy.

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