RUSSIAN “SOFT POWER”: BETWEEN EURASIA AND RUSSIAN WORLD

Abstract

Author analyses the process of creation of Russian “Soft power” – establishment of institutions and organizations, elaboration of official documents, inclusion of the term in political discourse. Author defines Russian features in perception of soft power as a foreign policy tool. Emerging strategy of Russian soft power is studied through the prism of Joseph Nye’s theory. It is stated that a narrative which is attractive for foreign countries appears as a key component of an effective soft power strategy. Author analyses the history of Eurasia and Russian World narratives, which are in the forefront of Russian foreign policy. Emerging narratives’ contents are carefully studied and compared. Finally the author concludes that these narratives can be complementary but also can be contradictory and can have a values gap. Purpose: to define perspective of Eurasia and Russian World narratives inclusion in Russian foreign policy. Methodology: consists in historical and political analysis and comparative approach. Results: it is concluded that Eurasia and Russian World narratives can be potentially contradictory within Russian foreign policy. Practical applications: research results can be applied in the framework of elaboration Russian foreign policy strategy.

Keywords

• «мягкая сила»
• нарратив
• внешняя политика
• Русский мир
• Евразийский экономический союз