Cultural Factors Of Russia's Foreign Policy

The unique culture has formed through the complicated changes in Russian history. Across the Eurasia Continent, with the largest territory in the world, Russia has developed its unique and distinctive culture and civilization as a result of the involvement of Christianity and the Asian culture. Primarily based on the Slav culture, having absorbed civilizations of Europe, Islam, Jew and East Asia, Russia enjoys a civilization of special characteristics. As a joint civilization, it is influenced by both the rationalism and abstract thought in the west and the introspection and the mysticism in the east, Meanwhile, with a deep mark of European market economy and the democracy. So the Russian culture is a mixture of the three: the multi- theological Orthodox Eastern Religion system, the traditional Introspection - oriented thought and the long - lived cooperative spirit. Russian peculiar geographical location and the social background has led to character of being on the verge and open, to some extent, strengthening the nationality of the Russian culture. The religious thought results in "being the Saviour" in its culture. Russian culture not only decides Russian philosophy of life, but also has a direct bearing on the making and implementing of the Russian foreign policy. Since the birth of Russia , the foreign policy of Russia has experienced two stages from pro - West policy to' multi- polar policy" . At present, Putin Administration is exercising a "realistic policy" . For a decade or so, Russia has been strategically adjusting its foreign policy from time to time owing to its unique historical tradition, political culture and the religious thought as well as the external international situation, the relationship between the large states and the comprehensive national strength.The influence of the culture on the Russian foreign policy during its transition manifests itself in the following five aspects: Firstly, The verging character of the culture and the doctrine of Eurasia have some influence on the inconsistency of the foreign policy. After the birth of Russia, the two parties - pro - west and Eurasia occupied the national diplomatic stage. After Russia's failure in an attempt to join the western world through copying the western mode, it began to resist the west and the Eurasia group came into power. But nowadays the main trend in Russia is to safeguard the national rights and protect its position as a large power in interna-tional community and to perform a self- reliance multi - dimensional diplomat. Secondly, the nationalism of Russia makes Russian show very strong resistance against the outside, and tries its best to maintain its national rights in the world. After the cold war, the national strength of Russia declined sharply, and so the feeling of a large nation began to embody more and more nostalgia with a hungry desire for the national rejuvenation. However, being the strongest country in the world has unswervingly been the Russian top objective. For the purpose of protecting its international rights, Russia persistently resists against the influence and the pressure from the foreign countries. On Chechen issue, Russia took a hard stand; as for the eastward expansion of NATO, it dared to say "No". Thirdly, the influence of the Orthodox Eastern Church enables the Russian to accept the concept of westernization. The Christ had been unified with the Orthodox Eastern Church for about one thousand years. With the same origin, the Orthodox Eastern Church and the Catholicism are close to each other. And in its foreign policy, Russia shows a strong identification with the western world. Yelsin promoted the policy of "side of the western without reservation", with a belief that Russia belongs to the west countries historically . And the only alternative to strengthening his country, Putin holds that Russia should return to and re -join Europe. Fourthly, openness in its culture has an all - round influence on the Russian foreign policy: The openness to the outside world enables Russia to share a trad...