#43 - JRL 2009-222 - JRL Home
Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009
From: Andrei Tsygankov <andrei@sfsu.edu>
Subject: New paper: Westernizers and Sinophiles in Russian Foreign Policy
What Is China to Us ? Westernizers and Sinophiles in Russian Foreign Policy
By Andrei P. Tsygankov
http://www.ifri.org/downloads/ifritsygankovengrussiachinanov2009.pdf
Russie.Nei.Visions, French Institute of International Relations (IRFI), No. 45, December 2009
As China's role in shaping the world grows, Russia is increasingly unable to resist its neighbor's economic and political influence. As a result, Russia's China discourse has evolved from the one dominated by Westernizers to one largely controlled by Sinophiles. The latter favor development of relations with China based on Russia's economic and security priorities. Although the official discourse remains focused on strengthening ties with Europe, the state is increasingly subject to pressures by various groups, both inside and outside state structures, with preferences for China. For the Western world, the prospect of the growing "Sinophilization" of Russia's foreign policy implies the need to strengthen ties with Russia, while preserving the existing level of strong relations with China.
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