Russian Foreign Policy towards the Middle East: New Trends, Old Traditions

"This volume offers a comprehensive view of the drivers of Russian diplomacy and how their interplay shapes Russia's approaches to the Middle East. These studies demonstrate that, while it plays an important role in shaping Moscow's approaches to the region, Russia's confrontation with the West should not be considered the only factor determining the Kremlin's policy in the Gulf. This volume demonstrates that Russia's domestic situation and the heritage of past experiences dealing with the region are no less important. Many underestimate the influence of the struggle for political power within Russia, and ignore the role of the Cold War experience, in determining Moscow's behavior in the Middle East. Many also simplify the role of Russian energy corporations as creating sources for conflict and cooperation between Moscow and Middle Eastern powers. While some authors present Russian oil and gas resources as just another lever through which Moscow exercises its influence in the region, this volume demonstrates that the Russian economy's heavy dependence on the export of hydrocarbons also shapes its policy."-- Provided by publisher.