Since 2014, the Western policymakers have been trumpeting a very peculiar set of propaganda specifically targeting Russia’s foreign policy.
Factually, the Russian Army Chief of Staff General Valery Gerasimov delivered a speech and that was subsequently published by Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier in February 2013. The Western analysts were so fearful of General Gerasimov’s views that they wrongly interpreted it as the “Gerasimov Doctrine.” It is worthy to note here that the United States Army’s research journal Military Review translated General Gerasimov’s speech and published it as “The Value of Science is in the Foresight: New Challenges Demand Rethinking the Forms and Methods of Carrying out Combat Operations” in its January 2016 issue.
However, like always, the West misinterpreted the arguments put forward by a Russian Army General. This article is aimed to rectify and clarify Russia’s approach towards foreign affairs and to interpret its grand strategy in the contemporary world.
Primakov Doctrine
The Primakov doctrine, named after Russia’s former Foreign and Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, sets the tone for Russia’s grand strategic objectives. The doctrine rejects several tropes and terms associated with Russian strategic thought, i.e., Hybrid Warfare and Gerasimov Doctrine. It rejects the notion of uni-polarity and implies that Russia should strive for a multipolar world managed by multiple powers to counterbalance the sole hegemony of the United States (US) and its so-called uni-polarity. It elucidates that, Russia, a vestige of the Soviet Union’s colossal, should enhance its influence in the post-Soviet space and resist the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) expansion. The Primakov doctrine calls for blending Russia’s hard and soft power to achieve its grand strategic objectives.
The Primakov doctrine has served as a foundational document for Russia’s foreign and defence policy for two decades. On the other hand, the Gerasimov Doctrine is purely a military effort to develop an operational concept for Russia’s future battlegrounds.
Russia’s former Foreign and Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov envisaged a concept for developing deep relations with China and India to counterbalance the Western influence, especially in the South Asia, Middle-East, and East Asia. He stressed Russia to enhance its presence in the former Soviet republics and promoting multilateralism.
During his term as the Foreign Minister of Russia from January 1996 till September 1998, he remained very active and strongly portrayed Russia’s vision in the post-Soviet world. He effectively opposed NATO’s expansion and convinced the Western policymakers to honour their promises and assurances. Yevgeny Primakov was instrumental in signing the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security on May 27, 1997, between Russia and NATO. The Founding Act had 4 main sections, and it was noted that “Other areas can be added by mutual agreement.”
Yevgeny Primakov was the main architect of the letter that was jointly written by Russia and China to the United Nations Secretary General to proclaim multipolarity.
Russia’s Multi-Polar World
The post-Soviet Russia is striving hard to bring multilateralism in to the world affairs. It is also struggling to turn the international system as multipolar. There is no doubt that the Primakov Doctrine was the very first conceptual instrument put forward by the Russian policymakers to offset the international structure. Yevgeny Primakov was well aware of the so-called US Uni-Polar Moment and the international fallout of such narratives. It is to be remembered here that Charles Krauthammer was among the Neo-Cons who celebrated the demise of the Soviet Union and trumpeted the victory of the US.
Conclusions
The Primakov Doctrine continues to serve as the foundational document to understand Russia’s contemporary foreign policy and its multilateral approach towards International Relations. Undoubtedly, Russia is a great power, and it has global concerns which require eloquent articulation of its foreign conduct. In hindsight, it is a fact that Russia and its policymakers have never opted for a unipolar world order.
Like all great powers, the Russian foreign policy is in tandem with its grand strategy. The Russian foreign policy is an instrument to achieve its grand strategic objectives, especially in the areas of ‘core national interests’ including Georgia, Ukraine, Arctic, Baltic States, and Eastern Europe. Having a multifaceted approach, the Russian foreign policy is centred on securing its strategic backyard and soft belly.
Simon Westwood is a political observer or research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues. He is an independent researcher and journalist working exclusively for “New Eastern Outlook”
