Abstract
This chapter presents how public diplomacy (PD) is conceptualised and operationalised from a Russian perspective, which differs from the Western one. The chapter states that the practice and terminology of PD are different in Russia, and it is not the same as its Western alternatives, as it includes the elements of engagement, but it does not include the elements of countering foreign propaganda/terrorist threats, which is supposed to be the part of the strategic communications narrative. Both Russia and Post-Soviet countries have a unique approach towards synonymous term of public diplomacy—humanitarian cooperation. Through its public diplomacy, Russia promotes the message that the nation state is the only reliable guarantor of international peace and stable world order and that interests prevail over values. It introduces the thesis that Russian public diplomacy is state-centric and consists of the mainly state-based PD initiatives.
It reveals origins of Russian Imperial and Soviet public diplomacy. It covers reasons that have led towards establishing new engagement mechanisms in the early 2000s.
It gives analysis of weaknesses and strengths of Russian public diplomacy in terms of its goals, actors and instruments; target audience; and evaluation of its efficiency in the regions of the top foreign policy priority.
It shows the importance of international dialogue and empathy during times of confrontation and prospects for the future research.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
During the Turkish-Russian War of 1787–1792, Britain wanted to maintain the continental balance of power, which it saw was being threatened by Russian gains in the war. Consequently it created the Triple Alliance in 1788 (Great Britain, Prussia and United Provinces) in an effort to counter the growing Russian influence.
- 2.
Zakharova, O., Ochakovskij krizis: publichnaya diplomatiya v 1791 g, https://gorchakovfund.ru/news/view/ochakovskiy-krizis-publichnaya-diplomatiya-v-1791-g/.
- 3.
Kollontai, A., Diplomaticheskie dnevniki, Academia, Moscow, 2001, p. 210.
- 4.
Velikaya, A. A., Russian–U.S. Public Diplomacy Dialogue: A View from Moscow, Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 2018, pp. 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-018-0102-1.
- 5.
Аhtamzian, A. A., and Trofimov, V. A., Fedor Danilovich Ryzhenko—Our FDR, http://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/sites/default/files/pdf/ahtamzyan_3.pdf.
- 6.
Website found at http://valdaiclub.com/.
- 7.
Website found at http://www.pircenter.org/en/.
- 8.
Website found at http://www.nkibrics.ru/.
- 9.
Website found at http://svop.ru/.
- 10.
Website found at http://sibir-eurasia.ru, http://evrazia-povolzhye.ru.
- 11.
Website found at http://berlek-nkp.com.
- 12.
Personal correspondence of the authors.
- 13.
Ulyukaev, A., Development of the Russian Economy Will Depend on the Extent of Stimulation and Support of the Economic Growth, http://forumspb.com/bfx-cc/system/uploads/docs/SPIEF_Review_2014.pdf.
- 14.
Nuland, V., Remarks at the U.S.—Ukraine Foundation Conference, http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/rm/2013/dec/218804.htm.
- 15.
Wu, I., Measuring Soft Power in the International System, International Studies Association Annual Congress—2018, San Francisco. Author’s personal archive.
- 16.
Lambert, M., Some Reflections on Russian ‘Soft Power’ in Contemporary Times, http://picreadi.com/michael_lambert2?fbclid=IwAR337ENexU2LN4DCPNeTZiAWW55AfCyjr3domct19Z_580MzPD28NxSs7FY.
- 17.
The Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), https://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/regs/fam/.
- 18.
10th BRICS Summit Johannesburg Declaration, http://www.brics2018.org.za/sites/default/files/Documents/JOHANNESBURG%20DECLARATION%20-%2026%20JULY%202018%20as%20at%2007h11.pdf (accessed 1 August 2018).
- 19.
History of Modern Public Diplomacy. The Origins of the Founding of the United States Information Agency (USIA), 26 February 2018, https://www.csis.org/events/history-modern-public-diplomacy (accessed 1 May 2018).
- 20.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID), Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, Approved by President of the Russian Federation V. Putin on 30 November 2016, Document no. 2232-01-12-2016, 1 December 2016), www.mid.ru/en/foreignpolicy/official_documents/-/asset publisher/CptICkB6BZ29/ content/id/2542248.
- 21.
Moscow welcomes EU’s participation in ‘Greater Eurasia’ project, says Lav rov, http://tass.com/economy/996087.
- 22.
Mnogograntnoe tvorchestvo, 2 June 2018, https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3649014 (accessed 15 July 2018).
- 23.
Zonova, T. V., Will NGOs Survive in the Future?, Russia in Global Affairs, 16 November 2013, http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/book/Will-NGOs-Survive-In-the-Future-16202.
- 24.
Ibid.
- 25.
January 2017. Public Diplomacy and National Security in 2017. Building Alliances, Fighting Extremism, and Dispelling Disinformation. Katherine A. Brown, Shannon N. Green, and Jian “Jay” Wang, https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fspublic/publication/170117_Brown_PublicDiplomacy2017_Web.pdf?FaqyYdWYJBGWo24kpc01vqlSW2ZcwyNf.
References
Fraser, M. (2009). Geopolitics 2.0, ARI 144. Retrieved from http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/defense+security/ari144-2009
Simons, G. (2018). Media and Public Diplomacy. In A. Tsygankov (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Russian Foreign Policy (pp. 199–217). New York: Routledge.
Tsvetkova, N. A. (2016). New Forms and Elements of US Public Diplomacy. International Trends, 13(3), 121–133.
Velikaya, A. A. (2018). Public Diplomacy and Humanitarian Cooperation in the Context of Modern International Trends. In A. Panov & O. Lebedeva (Eds.), Public Diplomacy of Foreign States. Moscow: Aspekt Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Velikaya, A.A., Simons, G. (2020). Conclusion. In: Velikaya, A.A., Simons, G. (eds) Russia’s Public Diplomacy. Studies in Diplomacy and International Relations. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12874-6_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12874-6_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-12873-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-12874-6
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)