Russian Aggression against Ukraine from the Perspective of Russia’s Political-Strategic Culture

Abstract

When analyzing the root causes of Putin’s military aggression in Ukraine, the influence of Moscow’s historical experiences should be taken into account. Ever since the formation of the first Russian state (Kievan Rus’), the political elite paid significant attention to holding a strategic presence in the Dnieper, Sea of Azov and the Black Sea regions. Most importantly, the historic linkage between the strong center periphery at home and the activity in the named regions is profound. Putin’s policies at home and abroad reveal the traditional intermestic nature of the policies established for pursuing Moscow’s national security interests. The central argument underpinning this article concerns the impact of the historical influences of Putin’s domestic and foreign policy approach to Ukraine. I attempt to advance an understanding that Putin’s illiberal agenda, both at home and abroad, has been the manifestation of the values and interests articulated by past Russian ruling elites. I argue that Putin’s political decisions in Ukraine and the strengthening of the power vertical style of rule at home are strategically interlinked choices that reflect the Russian leader’s understanding of the lessons bequeathed by previous ruling elites for promoting Russia’s great power aspirations in the context of the internal and external other.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Onat Isik

Onat Isik holds a PhD from the University of Otago, specialising in the field of International Relations. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at the University of Durham and a Master of Arts in International Relations at Oxford Brookes University. His PhD research examined the roots of Putin's intermestic policy-making in modern world politics. The doctoral research provided a historical account of Putin's centre-periphery at home and foreign policy in the emerging multi-polar world order through the conceptual framework of political-strategic culture. E-mail: [email protected]