There is little scholarly disagreement about the fact that since the end of the Cold War, a multipolar

world has slowly been re-emerging. Such a system is less stable than a unipolar or bipolar one. A
distinction that is often made is that between the West and the rest. The Indian-American journalist and
author Fareed Zakaria argued that due to the rise of the West, you are now seeing the emergence of a
post-American world.

0:52

In this world, the United States and Europe compete with China and other emergent powers over
economic interests. Which will spark new political and security issues. This has led to a new debate on
geo-economics. With a secure access to resources and energy, as dominant drivers of modern geo-
politics, countries around the globe no longer focus solely on territorial defense. Instead, they also now
consider the defense of vital economic interests. Indeed, both industrialized and industrializing nations
demand unrestricted access to resources, particularly energy supplies, critical materials and food. This is
a prerequisite for continued economic growth and social political stability. This geo-economics explains
why major in state conflicts can do erupt over economic issues, and will continue to do so.

1:59

Certain manifestations of this resource struggle are already visible.

2:05

On September the 7th, 2010, for instance, a Chinese trawler collided with a Japanese Coast Guard patrol
vessel near the uninhabited but resource rich [FOREIGN] islands.

2:19

The incidents, and the events detention of the Chinese captain that were major diplomatic fall out
between the two nations. Eventually, we landed but only after China reportedly had already halted
critical exports of rare earth minerals to its rival. A similar incident took place in April 2012 between
China and the Philippines over the disputed Scarborough Shoal which China claims is an integral part of
its territory.

2:51

When a Philippine warship sought to apprehend eight Chinese fishing vessels for illegal fishing, it found
the site blocked by two Chinese surveillance vessels. As the standoff continued, China warned its
population against travel to the Philippines and raised trade barriers on imported pineapples and
bananas. Since then, China has maintained a military presence in the Shoal, and implemented new
legislation barring non-Chinese vessels from entering without authorization.

3:32
The rise in increased regional assertiveness of China has triggered a debate in the United States on the
pivotal issue of rebalancing and retrenchment. US policymakers are reducing the country's strategical
maintenance in response to a decline in its relative power and defense budget.

3:52

As a result, Washington's foreign policy doctrines have been marked by increased retrenchment. Deep
cuts in his military spending, and the shifting of more of the United States global defense burdens onto
its allies. Indirectly, America's rebalancing to Asia also points at the increased danger of major power
conflict.

4:19

US fears that a rival China and its mounting anti-access, and area denial capabilities, could pose a threat
to its naval forces. In particular, it believes new Chinese anti-ship ballistic missiles, such as the F-21 D,
which could sink an aircraft carrier with a single hit, are now game changers.

4:42

In response US military presented the AirSea battle concept which calls for strengthening of bases in the
pacific and dispersal of forces and the ability to conduct long ranges operations. In addition in response
to Chinese assertions that the south China sea, was a core interest of Chinese sovereignty.

5:06

The Obama administration stated in 2010 that freedom of Maritime navigation in a region is a US
national interest. Although this may seem far fetch to some incidence in the Indian ocean and the South
China sea would really affect not just global security but also our security.

5:30

Major power conflict would trade routes, sea lines of communication and access to trade markets, and
resources at risk.

5:40

Both developed and emerging countries are extremely vulnerable to disruptions in the supply of
resources. A 2010 report by the European Commission identified 14 critical minerals.

5:57

The report observes that many emerging economies are pursuing industrial development strategies by
means of trade. Taxation and investment, instruments aimed at preserving their resource base for their
exclusive use. In some cases, the situation is further compounded by a high level of concentration of the
production in a few countries, as you can see on this map.

6:26
There's many reserves of critical materials can only be found in a limited number of countries, their
specification of supply is not an option. If a country, for whatever reason, stops the exports of raw
materials or energy, Europe may have no other option but attempt to force it's excess to these
commodities. In extreme cases this clearly could lead to armed conflict.

6:56

Moreover, as we know now, power politics takes place in Europe as well.

7:06

In early 2014, Russia took advantage of perceived economic military, and consequently political
weakness of Europe, to carry out the annexation, of the Crimea.

7:19

We should understand here that for Russia, power politics is not about geo-economics, but about our
ideas of restoring, past greatness and undoing elaboration of history. This is the end of show week
union.

7:36

This form of power politics is fueled by a feeling of humiliation by the west. This is about power politics
as well.

7:45

Russia accuses the West about taking advantage of Russia's weakness after the collapse of the Soviet
Union. When Russia was unable to stop German reunification, NATO's enlargement, the 1999 Kosovo
War, or the EU's Eastern Partnership.

8:07

The way Europe and America responded demonstrated that President Putin's assessment of a possible
reaction of the West was right.

8:17

Apart from imposing largely symbolic sanctions,

8:22

Europe could do little to stop Russia's annexation of the Crimea.

8:28

Interestingly, in Asia America's response was very different when China established an air and defense
zone. In the East China Sea extending over the disputed islands.
8:41

This zone requires for an aircraft to report to the Chinese authorities before entering airspace.

8:49

One day after its establishment US responded by sending a pair of B52 bombers on patrol in Tunisia.

8:57

A similar military show of force did not take place during the Russian annexation of the Crimea.

9:07

So what are the consequences of power politics? In the first place, it could weaken the legitimacy or
value of international treaties, an agreement.

9:19

NATO's intervention in Kosovo in 1999 was not supported by a UN resolution. Consequently,

humanitarian operations was considered illegal by Russia and China.

9:31

On the other hand, by occupying the Crimea Russia, herself violated UN charter. The OSE charter for
European security. The Budapest Agreement and all NATO-Russia agreements.

9:46

In March 2014, a large majority of countries in the United Nations General Assembly dismissed the
annexation as illegal. Even as Russia sought to rally world support for the idea of regional self-
determination. Remarkably, even China, Russia's long time ally abstained from supporting its position in
the UN.

10:12

By violating the international rule of law, major powers will weaken global institutions such as United
Nations as well.

10:21

Another consequence is that Europe, which abandoned traditional power politics after the end of the
Second World War, it's now confronted with a world which had believed belonged to the past.
America's to the east, a and a concept of leading from behind, all indicate that Europe must be able to
reassert and defend its vital interest, if necessary without American support.

10:53
In the past few years, before the Crimea, most European governments focused on the sovereign debt
crisis, which had plunked it into institutional and political crisis.

11:06

And they neglected the reemergence of power politics. However, Russia's seizure of the Crimea has
made clear that Europeans have no answer when confronted with the power politics of major powers in
its own neighborhood.

11:24

Europe has come to suspect that, if it had been military shown and politically united, President Putin
might not have risked this confrontation of the Crimea, this is what power politics are all about.

11:44

So in sum, a multiple world is emerging, this has led to a new debate on geo-economics and power
politics by definition and multiple world is less stable than the world we know.

11:58

In next video, we all look at the role of China in global affairs.

This graph shows that today, geopolitical change is only about one country, China.

0:24

As you can see on this graph, for some years now the rest of the world is in steady relative decline.

0:32

So it should come as no surprise that China has increasingly become the focus of the western world's
geopolitical calculations.

0:41

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, made this very clear. In 2011, she wrote a famous article in foreign
policy magazine. In this article, she argued that the Asia Pacific has become the key driver of fuel
politics.

1:00

The key issue is that In the Asia Pacific, only China truly translates as increased economic power into
military and consequently political power.

1:11
Now, it is good to remember until the middle ages China was the most powerful country on the globe.
Have a look at the graph, until 1820.

1:22

China will still easily the biggest economy. In those days, China's GDP accounted for more than 30% of
the world's total. But historically, this is only a very recent development. So for historical, psychological,
and political reasons the Chinese leadership considered China's recent rise as merely the restoration of a
great power to its rightful place under the sun.

1:48

Effect the Chinese role for China, Zhong Guo literally translates to middle country the country at the
center of the world.

2:00

So China's rise is about reclaiming what it sees as it's rightful place in history. This is psychologically and
politically very important when we try to understand China.

2:12

China's recently White Paper recognized the shifting geopolitical center of gravity towards the east. I
quote from the White Paper. The Asia-Pacific region has become an increasingly significant stage for
world economic development and strategic interaction between major powers. The US is adjusting it's
Asia-Pacific security strategy, and the regional landscape is undergoing profound changes. End of quote
from this defense strategy. Moreover, the White Paper, or the defense strategy, identified signs of
increasing

2:51

power politics, neo-interventionism and acknowledged that this could lead to competition in
international military field.

3:01

At the same time there is also close cooperation between China and the West. For example, in February,
2012, European Union officials went to Beijing in search of a Chinese contribution to the. In addition,
China invest strategically in Europe infrastructure and high tech industry.

3:24

Due to its interventions to save the Euro, growing trade relations in creating foreign indirect investment
and huge dollar recess China plays an increasingly dominant role in the Western world.

3:40
What then could be the source of conflict?

3:43

Well, in the first place in just realizing nations alike need reliable and unrestricted access to resources.
Particularly energy supplies, critical materials, and food. This is prerequisite for continued economic
growth and social political stability.

4:07

Between 2000 and 2008, China's consumption of metals, such as aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin and
zinc grew by an average of 60% per year. Whereas the demand for these minerals in the rest of the
world grew by only 1% per year. Therefore, access to resources is an important driver for China's foreign
policy.

4:33

This could, of course, lead to competition with other nations around the globe.

4:38

Food security is of particular importance. Very small increases in food prices could have profound
repercussions. For example, it would create social unrest.

4:51

When food becomes in costlier in countries with a high food dependency rate, shown here in dark blue.

4:58

The living cost of people can increase hugely, almost overnight.

5:03

This carries a high risk of popular unrest and civil instability. In recent years, climate change and
pollutions are already affecting food production in China. Consequently, China bought in Africa, another
part of the world.

5:20

The key issue is that with China's rise, its global interest grow with it. China needs an annual economic
growth of approximately 8% per year to accommodate the economic growth to satisfy domestic needs.

5:36

A downturn in such growth could result in social unrest. Which would spark instability and ultimately
political violence.
5:44

Uprisings and revolutions have been an essential part and recurring part of China's history.

5:51

The Chinese leadership is of course aware of this and therefore takes extreme care to maintain its social
contract with the people.

6:00

Access to raw materials and resource nationalism, are two sides of the same coin.

6:07

A notable example is China export quota for raw earth minerals. China produces 97% of the world's raw
earth metals, 70 elements critical to high-tech and green-tech manufacturing. Resource nationalism and
hard power politics are two sides of the same coin as well. Beijing is already pursuing increasingly
assertive policies in an attempt to gain access to raw materials in Africa.

6:36

Countries who try to acquire bases in resource-rich countries could transfer arms to resource-rich or
transit countries.

6:46

China is one of the biggest arms supplies to resource rich African States such as Sudan and Zimbabwe.
This development could turn the Indian Ocean into the flashpoint of future geopolitical strife.

7:04

China's hunger for resources explain a numerous instance which original powers around the South China
Sea and with Japan. These underscore the importance the security of strategic routes.

7:17

As there are numerous potential flash points, some reserves argue that war cannot be ruled out.

7:25

Turner's rhetoric is supported by investments and the build-up of its armed forces.

7:32

Chinese defense expenditure grew more than most other countries. According to Jinping, between 1998
and 2010, global military expenditure increased every year in real terms.

7:46
With double digit growth rates for the last two decades, China has had the fastest growing defense
budget by far. In March 2014, President Xi Jinping announced China's biggest rise in military spending in
3 years. The official figure would budget at a 12.2% increase. China seeks to develop more high tech
weapons, and to beef up coastal and air defenses. In fact, the real figure might be even higher. In 2010,
a discussion started over extra regional emissions. This market shift turned the brown water navy into a
blue water navy capable of operating in distant places.

8:33

The deployment of a Chinese warship off the coast of Somalia, to join the battle against piracy is a clear
expression of the new policy. In terms of size, the Chinese Navy already possesses around 190 major
combatant vessels.

8:50

It is on course to overtake the US Navy by 2020. Moreover, to support its future expeditionary
capabilities, China is producing force projection capabilities. This includes their first aircraft carrier, the
Liaoning.

9:11

It does not mean that China is aiming at a new kind of aggressive or imperial world dominance.

9:18

China considers itself as responsible world leader. It prefers soft power and it puts the improving
welfare of its own people first before interfering with world affairs. The Chinese leadership stresses
peaceful rise. In the early 21st century, President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
acknowledged that the rise of the new power often results in new challenges to global political order,
and even war.

9:48

Yet, both leader emphasized that China's rise will not pose a threat to peace and stability and that all the
nations will benefit from it.

9:59

Finally, the Chinese model of autocracy and state capitalism remains extremely attractive for other
governments. In the eyes of some global leaders the Financial Crisis, which started in 2008, proved that
China's model is superior over the western neo-liberal capitalist system. Indeed, this suggests that in
China, wealth grows. Beijing's soft power could eventually come to replace America's and Europe's soft
power.

10:34
So concluding, geopolitical changes about one country, China, the key issue is that China translates its
economic power into military and political power. This has profound geopolitical consequences.

10:50

In the next video, my colleague, Professor will look at the role of Russia, in the current global order.

Political power is shifting and it is diffusing into various directions. It moves from one state or group of
states to another. Which is called of course by the well known phrase, the decline of the west and the
rise of the west. But power also diffuses, it leaks away from the states to other actors, to other
institutions or to wired individuals. Or groups of individuals. But in global politics the central assumption
of the shifting power paradigm is actually the rise of new major states. China, of course is the primary
example. Within a relatively short time span the people's republic of China has reached the second
position in almost all global rankings. Obviously behind the United States.

1:20

China is the C in the BRIC abbreviation which stands for Brazil, Russia, India and China which is
sometimes headed by the S for South Africa. The BRIC is an exclusive club of prominent countries of
which no single affiliate has ever officially applied. For membership.

1:39

The notion was actually coined by an investment banker Jim O'Neil of Goldman Sachs in a publication,
2001 publication, Building Better Economic Bricks. Well, O'Neil is a banker and as a banker he was
primarily interested of course in investment opportunities and he believed at that time that these four
economies. Would offer excellent, the best prospect, prospects for the growth and expansion, including
of course Western investment.

2:04

Well, from a collective of emerging economies, BRIC gradually developed into a geopolitical notion,
indicating the four major rising powers at the global level. Brazil, Russia, India and China apparently
were the prime challengers of the International Liberal or Western order, which was, and still is
dominated by the United States, and, to a lesser extent, Europe.

2:28

Is BRIC, the BRIC notion more than a catchy phrase and how do you actually recognize an emerging
power? And do these four countries have enough in common? To put him in the very same category of
emerging powers. I will focus on Russia because Russia is perhaps the most exotic member of the BRIC
Club. [BLANK_AUDIO].

2:49
So how do we recognize an emerging power when we see one? My argument is that emerging power, a
rising power is defined by three criteria. One. Rapidly growing economy of substantial scale. The second,
an increasing political weight and the third one, that's the ambition to change the existing power
relations. That's absolutely crucial. In other words, a rising power combines growing economic and
political mass and a revisionist ambition.

3:18

Well, in economic terms, Russia is a relatively great power. Its GDP is in the global top ten, although far
behind the numbers one and two, the United States and China. Its GDP per capita ranks about 40th
which is substantially lower of course than that of the United States but higher than China's. But Russia
reaches particularly high. In some geographically relevant rankings. Not only is it the worlds' largest
country, it covers about one sixth of the earth but it also borders most of the world's unstable and
explosive regions. Additionally it's one of the world's largest energy suppliers and a major arms
producer. So it's an important country, it's an important country indeed, but is it an emerging power?
What do you think? Is Russia truly a emerging power?

4:07

I would say that the answer is negative. Different from Brazil, India and especially China, Russia is not a
rising or emerging power.

4:16

The Russian Federation is the successor state as you know to the Soviet Union which during the Cold
War was one of the two major global superpowers. The Soviet Union was feared and sometimes even
admired far beyond its own borders. Well the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and Russia one of the
union's 15 constitute republics became independent.

4:39

During the 1990's, the country went through an unprecedentedly deep political and economic crisis.
Russia became only a shadow of the former Soviet Union.

4:49

It was only during the 2000s, under the presidency of Vladimir Putin that Russia slowly re-emerged
again. The critical factor was not so much the administrative capabilities of its leadership,. Which were
generally low but enormous price rises for oil and gas on the world market. Russia finally recovered from
its economic malaise and Putin obviously became a popular and powerful leader. The Russian
Federation succeeded to reclaim its position as a great power. Maybe not a global great power but
certainly a regional one. [BLANK_AUDIO]. In my opinion Russia is another emerging power, like China,
India and Brazil. At best I would argue it is a re-emerging power. It has huge resources but mostly in the
energy fields. In geopolitical terms Russia is an ambiguous power. There is no doubt that it has a clear
revisionist agenda. It wants to change the global power relations, particularly the dominant, and as all
Russians practically or Russians would have, the arrogant position of the United States. Little of would
lost I would argue of the two protagonists of the Cold War. But different from most emerging countries,
Russia is also a status quo power. Russia has a clear stake in the global order.

6:08

It's one of the world's most important nuclear powers, it has a permanency obviously in the U.N.
Security Counsel and it is a member, although it was suspended after the Crimea crisis in 2014, of the
G8. But Russia's position today is to a very large extent, a legacy of the Cold War. It's a legacy which the
Russian Federation cherishes carefully. So the BRIC actually represents mixed group of countries. In all
respect, we have democracies and authoritarian regimes, we have divergent geopolitical situations and
we have a large variety of interests and ambitions.

6:44

The whole of the BRIC I would argue is actually smaller than the sum of its parts. Interestingly it is Russia
that proved to be one of the most active members of the BRIC.

6:54

The transformation of BRIC from a group of growing economies into a club of rising powers was mainly
due to Russia's efforts. The Russian Federation obviously considers the break an important political
asset. An instrument to compensate for its own failures and shortcomings. Russia is not an exemplary
power. Russia generates little admiration beyond its own borders. In other words, Russia has a poor
brand name. Well, what the Russian leadership is actually doing is using brick, not only to mobilize more
revisionist power at the global level, mostly against the United States, but also to bolster its own
reputation and influence at home.

7:37

Collapse of the Soviet Union was an enormous blow to the Russians back in 1991. They lost their empire,
they lost their country, they actually lost their global position. Russia appears to have finally recovered
now from this devastating moment in its recent history. Today the country's foreign policy is driven by a
new forceful combination of ambitions. One, power, two, influence, but also and very importantly status
and honor. Russia wants to be taken seriously. The Russians are absolutely convinced that they were
belittled and degraded by the Western powers after the Cold War. And the 2014 annexation by Russia
by the Crimea needs to be seen against this background. Putin drew a line in the sand. The occupation of
Crimea saved Russia's influence and honor in the general opinion in the [UNKNOWN]. And Putin realized
that the dismemberment of Ukraine could seriously jeopardize his relations with the west, but he also
knew that it would strengthen his position at home. His act of aggression was supported by a large
majority of the Russian population. Well, the annexation of the Crimea, I would argue, is not the
beginning of a new era in global politics, although Putin wants us to believe that. It's an expression of
Russia's anger and frustration rather than of its growing influence and strength. Russia may be a re-
emerging power, but it remains still far too weak to actually define the global order of things.
[BLANK_AUDIO].

9:05

In this video, we discussed the role and relevance of Russia among today's emerging powers.

9:11

Power is shifting away from the Trans Atlantic world to other regions to Asia in particular.

9:18

As a major power during the cold war and a re-emerging power in today's world, Russia in a way
symbolizes the link between the old and the new. In the next video we will dive deeper into the subject.
We will look more specifically at Russia's role in international organizations.

In this video, we will again zoom in on Russia, the Russian Federation, that is an old, new member,
among these emerging powers, and we will look specifically, at Russia's role in the international
organizations.

0:31

Russia's changing role in international organizations is, of course, closely linked, to fluctuations, in the
country's foreign policy. From 1991, that is, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country's
foreign and international relations went through different stages, clearly, different stages. These
successive phases were, all narrowly linked, with the country's internal situation, obviously, but also
with its global environment. Well, given that Russia is the successor state to the Soviet Union. One of the
two, major superpowers during the cold war. And that Russia still is the largest, and one of the more
powerful countries in the world. It has a wide range of global and regional institutional affiliations. In
diplomatic terms, I would argue, Russia is a truly globalized power. And this is of great importance, of
importance to Russia and the Russians, but also to the rest of the world. There are very few, global
issues that can be effectively dealt with without the act-, the active participation of Russia. Conflict
resolution in the Middle East and Afghanistan is an example. Terrorism. And the Caucasus and the
Central Asian, but also the future of European integration, given our competition, between the EU and
Russia, and other issues, other issues which need the participation of Russia to be effectively solved. The
climate issue, water, and, obviously, finally, energy. [BLANK_AUDIO].

1:55

Russia of course, is one of the, five permanent members of The United Nations Security Council, and this
is one of the country's most, crucial international privilege some would argue, which Russia uses
extensively, and strategically. Especially to block initiatives which it considers detrimental to its, own
national interest. A possible intervention to the Syrian civil war is a good example.
2:19

Russia's also a member of the Council of Europe, which once was a club of exclusively democracies, and
currently is an organization that, spans the whole or the Eurasian continent.

2:29

Russia's even formally affiliated with NATO. It's linked with the Trans Atlantic Military Alliance through
the so-called NATO-Russia council, and this affiliation gives Russia a very limited say in NATO affairs. In
short, Russia has a voice, but not a veto, in NATO.

2:48

Russia's participation in international institutions is part, obviously, of its foreign policies in general.

2:54

And a countries foreign policy is formed, I would argue, by three variables. One, its domestic resources
or capabilities, secondly, its environment regional and global, and thirdly, the ambitions of a countries
leadership. [BLANK_AUDIO]. The foreign policy of Russia during the last two decades can be divided into
two, separate stages which are, loosely connect with its major leaders Boris Nicoli Yeltsin and Vladimir
Vladmirvic Putin. During the largest part of the 1990s under Yeltsin, Russia's domestic resources were
extremely limited, and its international environment was highly unfavorable. The country was only very
slowly recovering from the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the international context was dominated by
defeat, and marginalization.

3:45

The west was in a triumphant mood, so Yeltsin had actually few other options but to follow this very
same west. Russian foreign policy was unprecedentedly, pro Western during the 1990s.

3:57

This situation changed from the end of that decade, under president Putin. Russia's domestic conditions,
improved considerably, state power was consolidated and strengthened, the economy recovered, the
Putin leadership was popular and almost undisputed, and at the very same time, the international
situation changed as well. And again, for the better. Prices for oil and gas went up. Russia's finances
improved significantly. International terrorism, in the wake of 9-11, gave Russia an important, an
increasingly important geopolitical position.

4:35

Russia even became a partner in the war on terror. And finally, the days of western optimism and hubris
were over, from the 2000's. And the United States struggled with unpopular wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq. And the European Union struggled as well, mostly with itself. Russian foreign policy changed,
accordingly. [BLANK_AUDIO]. The
4:58

Russian Federation sees itself, considers itself as an autonomous, revisionist power, in, I would add, a
truly [UNKNOWN] world. What are its major foreign policy features? One, Russia is an assertive, and a
revisionist power, it has the clear ambition to change the current rules of the game.

5:18

Aspect number two, variable number two, Russian foreign policy is a policy by issue, rather than by
principle which is very different from the old Soviet Union's foreign policy. That was ideologically
inspired. Russia's foreign policy isn't. Actually, the only ideology that the current Russian leadership
knows, is the perceived national interest.

5:38

Thirdly, Russian foreign policy is pragmatic, and strategic. It has a very clear aim. That is the
consolidation of the current domestic order in Russia, and the strengthening, of Russia's position beyond
its own borders, internationally. And these two ambitions are very, closely related. [BLANK_AUDIO]
Yeltsin's foreign policy priority was very clear, to have good, effective relations with the West. Now,
Putin, obviously. He also has a clear stake in workable relations with the west. But his real priority seems
to lie elsewhere. In the country's own, neighborhood. Putin seems particularly interested in
strengthening Russia's power and influence among its neighboring countries. In other words, in the area,
that used to be the Soviet Union, including Ukraine.

6:28

In Russian political jargon this part of the world is sometimes refereed to as the so called near abroad.
Which distinguishes it, apparently, from the real abroad. In other words, Russia claims to have special
privileges in this area.

6:42

The former Soviet Union with the, with the exception perhaps of the Baltic states, is seen as Russia's
own sphere of influence.

6:50

Now, what are the, overall goals in, Russia' neighborhood. First of all I would argue Russia wants to
establish, greater security on its own periphery. Secondly it wants to maximize its, economic
opportunities. And it wants to protect, the well-being of ethnic Russians and finally, most importantly
perhaps, Russian sees it, as a condition of its, great power status. [BLANK_AUDIO]. There's a wide range
of international, institutions and organizations active, in the former Soviet Union. And actually, Russia
dominates, most of them. Not all of them, but most of them. To mention the most important
institutions we have the Custom's Union, sort of a European union, to which Russia wants to add
Ukraine. There's the commonwealth of independent states, which is the oldest organization in the area.
We have the collective situa, security, treaty organization CSTO, which resembles NATO, and we have
the Shanghai Corporation Organization which also includes the People's Republic of China. Now most of
these organizations fall short in terms of investment of resources and policy coordination. Membership
and degree of participation have fluctuated dramatically, and no two, states, in the region have an
identical history of memberships. Well, due to its, hegemonic position in the area, and the volatility of
these organizations, the Russian Federation prefers bilateral, over multilateral ties in its own
neighborhood.

8:18

These bilateral ties take various forms. Political linkage includes, diplomatic and financial support by
Russia to friendly governmental, or non governmental individuals and organizations.

8:30

Military links, are particularly important, in relations between Russia and its neighbors.

8:35

Russian troops, have intervened, on several occasions, especially in conflict zones, and most recently, in
2014, in the Crimea.

8:45

Economic interests, are another major driver of Russian foreign policy, also in its neighborhood. Russia's
economic, relations its, neighboring countries, are very untransparent. And difficult to untangle, but the
bottom line, is always the same. They are supposed to support the expansion, of Russia's state interest,
and those, of its leaders. And these two issue are closely linked.

9:08

I would argue that for the first time in its history, Russia's actually, being ruled by the very same people
who also, own the country.

9:15

Well. It remains to be seen if Russia's, annexation of the Crimea really, represents another era of global
politics. I have my doubts. Practically all Russians welcome the annexation of the Crimea, that's for sure.
And for the time being, the Russian leadership considers the seizure of this part of Russia's historical
lands as way more important. The good and workable relations with the west. But it will truly have a
major impact on Russia's global position?

9:44

What do you think? Personally, I would say the answer is negative. Even if its own neighborhood, Russia
is being increasingly challenged, by outside powers. By European union in the west, perhaps also by
United States, and by China nad Central Asia. [BLANK_AUDIO]. In conclusion, Russia is a particularly
large, but not always an exceptionally, powerful country. In this video we talked about the various
dramatic changes in Russian foreign policy, from the late Cold War era.

10:17

For a super power Russia. The deep crises of the 1990's, was a traumatic experience. For the re-
emerging Russia, honor and status, seem as important as power and influence are. Russia wants to be
taken seriously, and it needs to be taken seriously in everybody's interests. Whether Russia is weak and
complaint as it was in the 1990's. Or whether if you're strong, or more confrontational, as it is today.