Russia and the Middle East: a Cold War paradigm?

Dannreuther, R. 2012. Russia and the Middle East: a Cold War paradigm? Europe-Asia Studies. 64 (3), pp. 543-560. https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2012.661922

TitleRussia and the Middle East: a Cold War paradigm?
AuthorsDannreuther, R.
Abstract

This essay argues that, although it is tempting to view Russian policies through a revived Cold War paradigm, this is a problematic and ultimately misguided approach. Such an approach ignores the significant sources of discontinuity and rupture between the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia. The essay presents an alternative framework for understanding and conceptualising Russia's engagement with the Middle East. This has three dimensions and takes an ‘inside-out’ approach. First, there are the domestic drivers for Russian engagement which is linked to the perceived need to counter the threat of secessionism in the North Caucasus and the potential broader radicalisation of Russia's Muslim population. Second, there are the more strictly economic interests in the Middle East, which include increasingly important trading relations with moderate pro-Western states in the region. And, third, there are the geopolitical considerations which certainly include potential competition with the West but also incorporate Russian ambitions to promote its credentials as a responsible great power supporting international norms, such as the principle of non-proliferation and a settlement of the Arab–Israeli conflict. The tension and conflict between these two strands of Russian policy making have been notably present in Moscow's responses to the Arab Spring.

JournalEurope-Asia Studies
Journal citation64 (3), pp. 543-560
ISSN0966-8136
YearMay 2012
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2012.661922
Publication dates
PublishedMay 2012

Related outputs

Saudi Arabia and the UAE: Bandwagoning, balancing and hedging
Dannreuther, R. 2024. Saudi Arabia and the UAE: Bandwagoning, balancing and hedging. in: Benjamin Houghton, B. and Houghton, K.A. (ed.) China, Russia, and the USA in the Middle East: The Contest for Supremacy Routledge.

Oil, materiality and International Relations
Dannreuther, R. 2024. Oil, materiality and International Relations. International Relations. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047117824123

Introduction to Handbook on Oil and International Relations
Ostrowski, W. and Dannreuther, R. 2022. Introduction to Handbook on Oil and International Relations. in: Handbook on Oil and International Relations Edward Elgar. pp. 2–15

Russia and the Middle East: Quest for Recognition
Dannreuther, R. 2021. Russia and the Middle East: Quest for Recognition. Orient. 4, pp. 31-38.

Russia and the Gulf States: Between East and West
Dannreuther, R. 2021. Russia and the Gulf States: Between East and West. in: Kozhanov, M. (ed.) Russia's Relations with the Gulf States and Iran Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 109-131

Russia, China and the Middle East
Dannreuther, R. 2019. Russia, China and the Middle East. in: Fawcett, L. (ed.) International Relations of the Middle East Oxford Oxford University Press. pp. 394-414

Understanding Russia's return to the Middle East
Dannreuther, R. 2019. Understanding Russia's return to the Middle East. International Politics. 56 (6), pp. 726-742. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-018-0165-x

Energy security in Central and Eastern Europe: An IR theoretical framework
Dannreuther, R. 2018. Energy security in Central and Eastern Europe: An IR theoretical framework. in: Ostrowski , W. and Butler, E. (ed.) Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe Abingdon Routledge. pp. 17-31

Energy Security
Dannreuther, R. 2017. Energy Security. Cambridge Polity Press.

EU-Russia Energy Relations in Context
Dannreuther, R. 2016. EU-Russia Energy Relations in Context. Geopolitics. 21 (4), pp. 913-921. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2016.1222521

Energy security and shifting modes of governance
Dannreuther, R. 2015. Energy security and shifting modes of governance. International Politics. 52 (4), pp. 466-483. https://doi.org/10.1057/ip.2015.4

Russia and the Arab Spring: supporting the counter-revolution
Dannreuther, R. 2015. Russia and the Arab Spring: supporting the counter-revolution. Journal of European Integration. 37 (1), pp. 77-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2014.975990

Shifting dynamics of the insurgency and counter-insurgency in the North Caucasus
Dannreuther, R. 2014. Shifting dynamics of the insurgency and counter-insurgency in the North Caucasus. Ethnopolitics. 13 (4), pp. 377-395. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449057.2014.896571

International security: the contemporary agenda (2nd edition)
Dannreuther, R. 2013. International security: the contemporary agenda (2nd edition). Cambridge Polity.

Geopolitics and international relations of resources
Dannreuther, R. 2013. Geopolitics and international relations of resources. in: Dannreuther, R. and Ostrowksi, W. (ed.) Global resources: conflict and cooperation Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 79-97

China and global oil: vulnerability and opportunity
Dannreuther, R. 2011. China and global oil: vulnerability and opportunity. International Affairs. 87 (6), pp. 1345-1364. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2346.2011.01040.x

Understanding the Middle East peace process: a historical institutionalist approach
Dannreuther, R. 2011. Understanding the Middle East peace process: a historical institutionalist approach. European Journal of International Relations. 17 (2), pp. 187-208. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354066110366045

China, oil and global politics
Andrews-Speed, P. and Dannreuther, R. 2011. China, oil and global politics. London Routledge.

Russian discourses and approaches to Islam and Islamism
Dannreuther, R. 2010. Russian discourses and approaches to Islam and Islamism. in: Dannreuther, R. and March, L. (ed.) Russia and Islam: state, society and radicalism London Routledge.

Energy security
Dannreuther, R. 2010. Energy security. in: Burgess, J.P. (ed.) Handbook of new security studies Abingdon Routledge. pp. 144-153

Islamic radicalization in Russia: an assessment
Dannreuther, R. 2010. Islamic radicalization in Russia: an assessment. International Affairs. 86 (1), pp. 109-126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2346.2010.00871.x

Europe and the Middle East: attempting to bridge the divide
Dannreuther, R. 2009. Europe and the Middle East: attempting to bridge the divide. in: Tardy, T. (ed.) European security in a global context: internal and external dynamics London Routledge. pp. 135-153

Chechnya: has Moscow won?
Dannreuther, R. and March, L. 2008. Chechnya: has Moscow won? Survival. 50 (4), pp. 97-112. https://doi.org/10.1080/00396330802329030

European neighbourhood policy - Selling the brand strategically
Dannreuther, R. 2008. European neighbourhood policy - Selling the brand strategically. Studia Diplomatica. 61 (3), pp. 47-58.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8z3x3/russia-and-the-middle-east-a-cold-war-paradigm


Share this

Usage statistics

231 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.