Honor in International Relations: Russia and the West from Alexander to Putin (Research Brief)

The main purpose of my project is to develop a history and culture-sensitive treatment of Russian foreign policy from the early 19th century to the current period. Drawing on constructivist research in international studies, I concentrate on Russia’s tradition of defending the state, as shaped by elite political culture and the nation’s ties with Western nations. Russia’s understanding of national interest and foreign policy is best viewed as determined by different concepts of honor. Using historical case studies, I identify conditions responsible for rise and fall of each concept of honor in Russia’s foreign policy and to document their meanings and role in the country’s decision making. During my trip, I have completed library research and conducted a number of interviews with Russian foreign policy experts.

Download the pdf at the top of this page for the full brief.

Andrei P. Tsygankov, of San Francisco State University, was a 2010-11 Short-Term Travel Grants (STG) fellow.