European Security in the New Political Environment by James H Wyllie

Author:James H Wyllie [Wyllie, James H]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781315505060
Goodreads: 39819678
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2017-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

Great Power

The distinguishing feature of Russian foreign and security policy since 1993 has been the determination to establish the Russian Federation as a Great Power. While Great Power aspirations are often expressed through military activity, support for status is as much a civilian enthusiasm as one of the military. The civilian leadership has become as aware as the military that Great Power status induces a sense of national pride and identity. They are also alert to the dangers and challenges surrounding the borders of the new Russian Federation which could threaten the integrity of the state if not addressed. This common perception has created a strong link between the civilian and military establishment. Foreign Minister Kozyrev conveyed this mood in 1994 when he wrote:

Russia is predestined to be a great power. It remained as such for centuries in spite of repeated internal upheavals. What matters now is whether it is resurrected as a hostile nation under nationalist role or a peaceful and democratic one.22

A ‘realist’ view pervades both elements of the ruling establishment, especially over the strategic importance of the former Soviet Union and the 25 million Russians living there.23 Instability in the ‘Near Abroad’ would be detrimental to Russian strategic security, deep economic ties and the physical and social wellbeing of ethnic Russians. Instability might also bring a flood of refugees – potentially hundreds of thousands – which could cause serious problems for the creaky Russian socio-economic infrastructure.

It may be because of, or despite, economic and military decline that nearly every political opinion in Russia wishes to see Russia treated as the Great Power it has historically been. That they fear that it may no longer be, but that they wish to remedy that situation, is evidenced by the repetition of Great Power claims. A salient feature of Russian Great Power behaviour in Tsarist and Soviet times was a central role for the military. Again, after a short hiatus between the late 1980s and 1993, the military is a leading pillar of state power. Of all the major institutions of state the military adapted, in the political sense, most easily to the post-Communist system. Structural change, such as withdrawal from East Europe and downsizing, was painful and unwelcome and seriously affected morale and performance. But there was little problem in changing from a Communist army to a nationalist army. Ideology was discarded with little regret and a realist view of Russia’s national security requirements quickly adopted. One of these requirements was the need for a strong, legitimate authority at the centre of the nation-state. The army’s role in countering the August 1991 coup attempt and supporting the Yeltsin Administration in the October 1993 confrontation with parliament were crucial in recent Russian political history. It allowed the military to resume a position close to the centre of national power.

Throughout 1992 and 1993 a debate took place in military circles as to how the armed forces could best serve Russian national interests. In May 1992 the Russian Ministry of Defence published a draft Military Doctrine for the new Russian Federation.

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