Russian Federation & Its Allies, Friends & Fellow Travelers
Does the Russian Federation have friends, or is it the case, as Emperor Alexander III said, that “Russia has but two allies – its army and its navy”? On this question there are two opposing points of view. On one view, Putin’s Russia is successfully widening its circle of friends on all continents. On the other, Russia’s partnerships are strictly opportunistic in nature, such that, for example, Russia and China are more like “fellow travelers” than “friends.” We will try to find the “golden mean” in this debate.
Most of Russia’s partners belong to the Global South – what leads these nations to cooperate with Moscow? Under what circumstances can a “friendship” grow within military-strategic partnership? Do such unions have a future? What place does Russia occupy in intergovernmental associations such as BRICS? How do Russia and its friends vote at the UN? Who is helping Russia in its war against Ukraine and how? Where are Russia’s military bases, and will Russia be able to acquire new ones?
We will begin with the continent of Asia (China, India, Iran, North Korea), next turn our attention to Africa (South Africa, Central African Republic, Sudan), and finally discuss some of Russia’s old and new friends in Latin America (Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, Venezuela). This is our only online graduate offering this summer. Class meetings and instructor office hours will be conducted via Zoom. Counts as a course in culture and civilization.