Restraint Instead of Assertiveness. Russia and a New Era in World Politics

Development in 2016-2017 marked watershed after era in international relations. Agenda set by profound transformation generated by the fall of communism and collapse of the Soviet Union has been exhausted on all sides. The West is forced to revise euphoric arrogance and to conclude that victory 25 years ago doesn’t help anymore to address emerging troubles worldwide. Russia’s wish to reverse decline of its international status after the Cold War has reached objective limits both internationally and domestically. Meanwhile prospects of new constructive relations with the West have diminished to the lowest point since early 1980s. New agenda is needed. At the backdrop of overall deterioration of international rules and weakening strategic stability detachment and restraint seem to be the only rational choice for Russia, which needs time and efforts to formulate new model of development and credible vision of the future.

Report prepared by Alexei Miller and Fyodor Lukyanov as concluding part of project launched in 2015 with support of MacArthur foundation.