Russia’s Foreign Policy and Soft Power
Journal: Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks
Year: 2015

Much of the commentary on Russia's recent interventions in the near abroad, most notably the March 2014 annexation of the Crimea, has focused on Russia's hard power — its geopolitical designs in the post-Soviet neighbourhood, ostensible security vulnerabilities to NATO's eastward expansion, strategic objectives and military capabilities. These questions are not moot and have a strong sense of urgency for leaders in Kyiv, Chisinau and even Astana nervously pondering Russia's next moves. Yet an ex