Russia After The Cold War Policy Toward Africa

Around the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, Russia began to adopt the policy to shrink its sphere of influence in Africa with almost none to be left. At the end period of the rule under Yeltsin, Russia's economy began to turn around. Accordingly, Russia became more aware of the fact that to follow the West blindly neither helps maintain its global standing, nor can it protect its own strategic interests. Therefore, Russia began to adjust its foreign policy and strategy, so did its policy on Africa. However, due to Russia's limited national strength, there was no substantial change in its Africa policy.Since Putin came to power in 2000 , Russia's economy had grown rapidly accompanied by unprecedented domestic stability. Strengthened overall strength offered Russia new opportunity to adjust its foreign policy. Therefore, rather than allowing itself to be guided by the West all the time as it once did, Russia began to explore new policies in an active manner in an attempt to reestablish its sphere of influence and regain its interests in Africa. However, comparatively speaking, as the national strength enhanced and the international situation changes, Russia's Africa policy takes on some new look in terms of the change from an ideology to national interests-based policy and comprehensive cooperation with African countries in areas of politics, economy and security.The thesis falls into four parts: Part One offers a summary of the Africa policy of the former Soviet Union.; Part Two gives an analysis on Russia Africa policy after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union; Part Three explains the reasons why Russia would like to adjust its Africa policy and its features after an analysis on Russia Africa policies at different phases after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union.; Part Four presents the negative factors in the development of Russia-Africa relations and the prospect of the Russia Africa policy. The thesis seeks to give an analysis on the features, reasons and influences of the adjustment in Russia Africa policy through the lens of Russia's adjusted policies in Africa after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union. It also attempt to, from the perspective of the changes in Russia Africa policy, explore the way Russia endeavors to redefine its position on the international arena. And on the basis of these, the thesis would like to cast some lights on the prospect of Russia Africa policy in the future.Though Africa would not come first on Russia's political and economic agenda in the near future, it still can be learned the obvious adjustment in Russia's foreign policy and strategy in recent years from the changes in its Africa policy. It is safe to argue that Russia becomes more flexible and practical in its foreign policy after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, ant the result of the all-dimentional approach has already been felt.