"Less than two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, China, Iran and Iraq number among a cadre of Russia's closest friends. The resolute turn to the West which had characterized Russia's early foreign policy strategy, by the mid-1990s, had been tempered by the move to a more reserved policy. On the contrary, the Bush Administration's tenure was marked by diplomatic tensions with China, unambiguous intentions to end Iran's nuclear programme and the invasion of Iraq. The question becomes why Russia has chosen to jeopardize its embryonic partnership with the West in favour of alignment with 'challenger' states like China, Iran and Iraq. Given the emergence of American hegemony, it would seem that Russian alignment with these states suggests a strong connection with the United States. The author unpacks preconceptions and examines the true extent to which the American factor interacts with Russian economic, domestic security, and regional objectives in driving Russian foreign policy."--Book cover.

"In association with St. Antony's College."

Introduction: Approaches ; Methodology ; Broader significance -- 1. Perception and misperception: Russia looking inward and out : the great identity debate -- Russia's post-Cold War role : the search for great powerhood -- Perceptions of the post-Cold War order -- Conclusions -- 2. The Russian institutional context: The Russian institutional landscape -- 'Challenger' states and Russian foreign policy-making -- Russian players in the Chinese context -- Russian players in the Iranian context -- Russian players in the Iraqi context -- Institutions influencing Russian engagement with 'challenger' states -- The executive -- The presidency -- Prime Minister Chernomyrdin -- The Russian Duma -- Ministries and related 'client' groups -- Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations -- The Ministry of Defence and the military-industrial complex -- Ministry of Atomic Energy -- Ministry of Fuel and Energy and the oil and gas interests -- The oligarchs -- Conclusions -- 3. The Wounded Bear and the Rising Dragon: Factors in Russian policy towards China -- The economic dimension -- Military technology and weapons sales -- Nuclear technology sales -- Oil and gas cooperation -- Russian domestic security -- The Chinese threat -- Global dimension -- Conclusions -- 4. Partnership with Iran: The lynchpin of the Axis of Evil? -- Factors in Russian policy towards Iran -- The economic dimension -- Nuclear technology sales -- Military technology and weapons sales -- Oil and gas cooperation -- Russian domestic security -- Regional dimension -- The Tajikistan conflict -- Afghanistan -- The Caspian sea -- Global dimension -- Too many sticks, not enough carrots : American deterrence policy -- Rejecting junior partnership : defying America -- Iran and the international context -- Keeping the Iranians in and the Americans out -- Conclusions -- 5. Russia and Saddam's Iraq: The road to nowhere : factors in Russian policy towards Iraq -- The economic dimension -- United Nations Security Council sanctions -- Oil-for-food agreement -- Debt collection -- Post-sanctions contracts -- Russian domestic security -- Regional dimension -- Global dimension -- Great power aspirations -- UN diplomacy : giving Russia a voice -- The utility of multilateralism -- Conclusions -- Conclusion.