PUTIN'S RUSSIA: REALLY BACK?

Attempts by Washington and Brussels to push Russia to the fringes of global politics because of the Ukrainian crisis seem to have failed. Thanks to its important role in mediating the Iranian nuclear agreement, and to its unexpected military intervention in Syria, Moscow proved once again to be a key player in international politics. However, Russia’s recovered assertiveness may represents a challenge to the uncertain leadership of the West. This report aims to gauging Russia’s current role in the light of recent developments on the international stage. The overall Russian foreign policy strategy is examined by taking into account its most important issues: Ukraine and the relationship with the West; the Middle East (intervention in Syria, and ongoing relations with Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia); the development of the Eurasian Economic Union; the Russian pivot towards Asia, and China in particular. The volume also analyzes if and to what extent Moscow can fulfill its ambitions in a context of falling oil prices and international sanctions.

Aldo Ferrari. (PhD) teaches Armenian Language and Culture, History of Caucasus and Central Asia, and History of Russian Culture at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice. He is Head of the Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia Programme at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) in Milan and President of ASIAC (Association of Italian Studies on Central Asia and the Caucasus).