Russian Perspectives

Abstract

Russia’s policy towards the Yugo-crisis needs to be analysed within the general framework of the attempt by the ruling elite to adjust the Russian Federation to the post-Cold War international environment; and as the expression of severe political struggle over the transformation in Russia waged by different parties, movements and interest groups. In this context Russian policy may be considered in the light of five problems:

• (1) Russia’s perceptions of the post-Cold War international order and the place of Russia in it. This new world order has two aspects. As Russian adjustment to the Western world existed and developed without the USSR after October 1917, and as the changing of the structures of the Western world itself.

• (2) Russia’s perceptions of ‘post-Soviet space’, and her policy towards the ‘near abroad’ including Russian-speaking minorities. The situation in the former Yugoslavia and ‘the problem of the Serbian people’ was considered as an unsuccessful model of post-Communist transition.

• (3) The continuation of long-running Russian debates between ‘Westernisers’ and ‘Slavophiles’ under the new cover of ‘Atlanticists’ and ‘Eurasians’, and the rethinking of traditional historic ties between Russia and the Slavonic nations.

• (4) The clash of ‘reformers’ and ‘conservatives’ over the speed, direction, depth and nature of the reforms, and the disagreements within the ‘reformer’s camp’ itself.

• (5) Perceptions of the political situation in the post-Yugoslav space, particularly the changing attitude of Serbian authorities towards the conflicts there.