When considering Russia’s current standing in the world, one must first look to its past through a variety of lenses and different perspectives of international relations. It is not at all surprising that Russia, a country originally formed out of disjointed, self-interested tribes, would be obsessed with guaranteeing their security from outside attack. Having to constantly defend their interests from each other in an anarchic world, these tribes would build up power and eventually take over other tribes. Once power was consolidated into a larger state, Russia had the dubious task of defending itself from Mongol invasions. The Russian Empire was then founded, with power invested in a single, powerful leader – the czar. This leader was supposed to guarantee security of the state, which was often detrimental to individual freedoms, which Russians were often deprived of. This period of Russian history is clearly of the realist mindset, with security in a naturally anarchic world being the primary goal. The Russian Empire remained firmly in place for 200 years, until industrialization led to fierce internal revolution, spurred on by the writings of Karl Marx, who helped establish Marxism as a perspective of international relations. Marx believed in fierce class struggle, where the state wasn’t autonomous and was simply an agent of the bourgeoisie and international capitalism. Marx envisioned the proletariat (workers) rising up against the bourgeoisie, who unfairly exploited them for their own selfish gains. The Russian Revolution of 1917 can be explained by Marxist theory because it was led by workers. Russia was devastated by a loss of life and finances after World War II, so it was left highly vulnerable to attack. From a realist perspective, this explains why Russia acquired nuclear weapons. Such an act would help ensure its security and counter American power in the West. On an international stage, the Soviet Union (as it was then called) became a principal member of the Warsaw Pact, which was meant to counter NATO, a similar international body that the United States was a member of. This was meant not only to ensure collective security for the Soviet Union and all actors involved, but also to advance communist ideology to other states on the world stage. This is one of the few times in Russian history that its actions can be looked at through the lens of liberalism. According to George Kennan in his article “The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” Russian society is deeply rooted in Marxist ideology. Russians have developed an identity of themselves as being victims which turn inward. Constructivist theory states that ideas and events are mediated through cultural identities, which means that reactions aren’t always predictable, but rather dependent on the nation in question. Constructivist theory best explains Russia’s current standing in the world, because the collective identity of the Russian people (combative, guarded and hard-working) is similar to the country itself. Having adopted the traits of its people, Russia is increasing its standing in the world by being self-motivated and determined, turning inward and refusing help from the rest of the world.
Since former KGB agent Vladimir Putin became president in 1999, he has reversed decades of strife in Russia, resurrecting a fledgling economy, decreasing the extraordinary levels of crimes in the cities and guaranteeing security on all fronts. Russia is showing vast signs of political and economic improvement. Of course, stability and security comes at a cost, and Putin makes no qualms about stifling personal freedoms if necessary. Just ask critics of his regime that have suspiciously been silenced and, in extreme cases, killed. Putin himself seems to have bent the rules, resigning when his term as president ends this March, yet making it known that he would like to become prime minister. Putin’s desired successor, Dmitry Medvedev, has stated that he will allow Putin to become prime minister if he wins election. Should this scenario play out, Putin is guaranteed to be an influential figure in Russian politics for years to come.
Russia is a close ally of the United States, and has been for most of our history, with the obvious exception being the Cold War. However, with its vast arsenal of nuclear weapons and opposition to the Iraq War, recent relations between the two nations have been strained. If Russia’s prominence continues to rise with Putin’s omnipotence, it remains to be seen what the future could hold for the international community. Russia may never return to the status it maintained during the Cold War, but it may not need that status in order to exert its influence on the world. This is why I have chosen to study Russia’s rise to prominence in the international community.
It is easy to conceptualize that each individual is affected by international relations. But conceiving that the opposite relationship exists (each individual affects international relations) is both empowering and hard to believe. It did not end up taking long for us to come up with several ways we do indeed have an effect.
We vote for politicians. Well, most of us do. If you go by voter turnout in presidential elections, half the country could care less about international relations. If it’s an off-year election, you’re looking at one-third of all Americans caring enough to get in their cars, wait in line and cast a ballot. This means that two-thirds of the country is apathetic to the world around them, which is disturbing and doesn’t bode well for our collective future.
| Year | Voting-age population |
Voter registration |
Voter turnout | Turnout of voting-age population (percent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 220,600,000 | 135,889,600 | 80,588,000 | 43.6% |
| 2004 | 221,256,931 | 174,800,000 | 122,294,978 | 55.3 |
| 2002 | 215,473,000 | 150,990,598 | 79,830,119 | 37.0 |
| 2000 | 205,815,000 | 156,421,311 | 105,586,274 | 51.3 |
| 1998 | 200,929,000 | 141,850,558 | 73,117,022 | 36.4 |
| 1996 | 196,511,000 | 146,211,960 | 96,456,345 | 49.1 |
| 1994 | 193,650,000 | 130,292,822 | 75,105,860 | 38.8 |
| 1992 | 189,529,000 | 133,821,178 | 104,405,155 | 55.1 |
| 1990 | 185,812,000 | 121,105,630 | 67,859,189 | 36.5 |
| 1988 | 182,778,000 | 126,379,628 | 91,594,693 | 50.1 |
Data Source: Federal Election Commission
In voting, we share the responsibility of putting foreign policy makers in office. We thus have a responsibility to U.S foreign policy and consequently to international relations.
Another connection comes via our choices as consumers. Many products, in particular clothing, come from foreign countries. The main example of this being China. Our purchases add to the economic and world power China is quickly becoming.
Similarly, American jobs are being lost overseas due to outsourcing. Companies see better options for workers in other countries, because they can pay them less money and provide them with fewer benefits. More Americans would care about international relations if their own job security threatened on a daily basis.
Our cars consume oil -which is becomming more scarce - and that has made us dependent on the Middle East’s vast supply. This dependency is arguably one cause for the aggressive stance we have taken in that region of the world.
Another connection is travel. The world has become in many ways anti-American due mainly to our foreign policy. It is difficult to travel outside the U.S without coming across at the very least passive hostilities (Europe). Many areas must be entirely avoided. The interconnected economies of the world also bring about economic downfall in the U.S. This could make getting a job outside of college more difficult for us. On a personal level, as a member of the Jewish faith, the Israeli Palestinian conflict has a direct emotional affect upon me.
Any American with family in any foreign country has a vested interest in international relations, because their safety may be in jeopardy. In a few years, many of us will be studying abroad as well, so it’s best that we understand the delicate system of international relations.
Peace easy for now.
I can’t say that any personal event defined my life, so I’ll just go with the September 11th attacks. I can’t really remember much about my life or the world before that day. I know it’s cliche, but that event shook everything to its core and forced me to realize that the world wasn’t as perfect as I previously thought. It completely changed my perspective of the world and forced me to see the harsh realities of life, which I had ignored before.
After failing to make the varsity team outright my freshmen year of high-school, I was given the opportunity of challenging my way onto the eight person team. I defeated my first opponent, a senior, 6-0 6-0 and was then allowed to go against a the teams alternate whom I also defeated. This win made me a member of one of the states best varsity teams. I went on to work my way up to the third singles spot after only a few matches. I was a starting singles player each year, and was eventually the captain during my senior year.
Making the team provided me with a strong base of friends throughout high-school. The friendships I made and confidence I gained from having them helped to define the person I am to this day.
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