Abstract
Throughout history, Russia's narrative of being a “sieged fortress” persists despite contemporary absence of external threats. This narrative justifies expansion as a cultural necessity, compensating for perceived existential threats and unsatisfactory living conditions. While historically rooted, this narrative serves as a psychological justification for expansionist policies. Throughout history, Muscovy has established dominance, notably in subjugating elites. This historical trend of overpowering local authorities reflects in Russia's modern aggressive foreign policy. The purpose of the study is to determine the socio-cultural and psycho-social foundations of its modern aggressive expansionist foreign policy based on the analysis of Russian history. Revealing the foreign and domestic reasons for its aggression against Georgia and Ukraine. Showing the importance of local actors in global politics on the example of the international significance of Russia's war against Georgia and Ukraine.
TopIntroduction
Relevance of the Topic (The Black Swan and the Gray Rhino)
As a result of Russia's full-scale open aggression against Ukraine, the relevance of the analysis of the internal political foundations and historical roots of Russia's foreign policy suddenly increased sharply. At first glance, the war in Ukraine appears to civilized society as a “Black Swan,” (Source: Encyclopedia Britannica), (what is meant behind this term generally is known, but still, its semantics should be emphasized in this specific case. It's meant here that a full-scale operation and overt aggression in Europe, even coming from Russia, was an absolutely unimaginable and thus unpredictable event) in fact, it appiars to be a “Grey Rhino” (Wucker, 2016) (In this particular case, both from the point of view of post-Soviet Russia as a whole, and from the other side, the current moment, the danger was inevitable).
The fact is that, not seeing the “Gray Rhino” is a phenomenon characteristic of human psychology, especially for developed, sivilized societies. There are events that are so foreign and unacceptable, so threatening, that accepting them psychologically requires getting out of the comfort zone, psychological self-compulsion to move from a familiar, safe, comfortable situation to an unfamiliar, dangerous zone.
It can be said that, in one way or another Russian aggression was absolutely predictable, both at the current moment as well as throughout the entire previous period, starting with the proxy wars against Georgia and Ukraine and ending with open aggression against Georgia in August 2008.
Although aggression and expansion have been a characteristic tool of all humanity throughout its history, Russia, unlike modern civilized humanity, is characterized by anachronism (based on historical experience, legitimation of the use of a tool currently rejected by modern developed humanity) and a deeper historical socio-cultural characteristic that has distinguished it from Western civilization throughout its existence.
The purpose of the study is to determine the socio-cultural and psycho-social foundations of Russia's modern aggressive expansionist foreign policy based on the analysis of its history. Revealing the foreign and domestic reasons for its aggression against Georgia and Ukraine. Showing the importance of local actors in global politics on the example of the international significance of Russia's war against Georgia and Ukraine.
Socio-Cultural And Psycho-Social Foundations Of The Kremlin's Foreign And Domestic Policy
Russian political psychology stems from and is based on three main phenomena that may have been objective in the past, but are now completely mythologized:
Key Terms in this Chapter
Expansion: The term broadly refers to the act of growing, extending, or increasing in size, scope, influence, or territory. The context in which the term is used can vary significantly, encompassing economic, territorial, cultural, or organizational expansion
Fascism: A political ideology and form of government that emerged in Europe during the early-to-mid 20th century. It is characterized by authoritarianism, extreme nationalism, dictatorial power, and strong control over the economy and society.
Hard Power: A concept in international relations that refers to a nation's ability to influence others through coercive or forceful means. This includes military strength, economic pressure, and other forms of direct influence.
The Return of the State: This term typically refers to a renewed emphasis on the role of the state in governance, economic policy, and social affairs. This concept has gained attention in recent years as some governments around the world have taken steps to assert greater control and influence in various aspects of public life.
Muscovy: Historically known as the Grand Duchy of Moscow or Muscovy Rus, refers to a medieval state that played a crucial role in the development of the Russian statehood.
Military Invasion: A military invasion occurs when armed forces of one geopolitical entity cross borders into another territory, usually with the intent of conquest, occupation, or the establishment of control.
Soft Power: A concept in international relations that refers to a nation's ability to influence others through non-coercive means. Soft power relies on attraction and persuasion. The term was coined by political scientist Joseph Nye in the late 1980s.