Russia in international relations after the break-up of the USSR

Abstract

The post-Cold War has been a subject to many historians. The period of the two superpowers ended with the ideological defeat of one and the victory of the other. The former Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics dissolved and a new state, the Russian Federation was born. The first period after the dissolution during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin Russia was drowning in its own problems until the new man, Mr. Vladimir Putin, came to power. The era of improvement came. Today, the Russian Federation stands on its feet once again and its influence in foreign affairs grows. Russian pride is restored but new challenges are emerging. The world has entered a new era, the era of a globalized world, and it is crucial for Russia to handle this process appropriately to find its stable place within the new international order. This dissertation offers a deeper look into the transformation of Russia from communism to the Russian Federation as it is today and also makes assumptions of where Russia is heading in the future.