Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Russia's Defence Policy
Course Code
SZF_066
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
5.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Mārtiņš Vargulis
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To provide knowledge and analytical readiness on key aspects of Russia’s defence and security policies, as well as on Russia’s military ambitions in the region and the world. To analyse the impact of Russia’s defence policy objectives and priorities internally and externally.
Preliminary Knowledge
General knowledge of the methods and theories in the field of international relations, as well as general knowledge of Russia’s recent history, political system, economic data and position among other global military powers.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.As a result of completing the study course, students will be familiar with trends and challenges in Russia’s defence policy. Students will understand the dynamics of the development of Russia’s defence policy in the light of internal and external shocks, their interaction and impact.
Skills
1.Students will independently carry out a large-scale research on Russia’s defence policy and its trends. Through participation in classes and independent work, students will critically select sources of information on the defence of Russia and discuss these issues with arguments. Students will explain in depth the challenges of Russia’s defence policy and opportunities for promoting cooperation with other countries.
Competences
1.Students will describe the impact and challenges of Russian defence policy in the international system, including in the Baltic region, as well as assess and explain with arguments the impact of various factors on Russia’s defence policy.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Individual work |
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Within the module, students will prepare for seminars, read recommended readings, prepare a presentation and a report.
The objective of the seminars is to develop students’ ability to justify their point of view; to stimulate activity; to test their knowledge of the topic and the material.
The objective of the report – to develop the ability to identify the main problem of the topic; to identify and evaluate alternative arguments and points of view; to present one’s own point of view, explaining and arguing why this point of view is more acceptable and superior to any other. The report must compare all possible alternatives, considering all their weaknesses and strengths. Another objective is to develop the skills to independently research situations and problems, evaluate them and develop solutions.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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Assessment: students will be assessed on the quality of their presentations and a report of their peers’ presentations during lectures.
Presentation guidelines:
1. Presentations are based on a study of articles and/or policy documents (distributed during the introductory lecture). Each article must be related to the topic of the lecture on that day. By selecting an article, each student commits to presenting on that day.
2. Presentations are assessed; students can pass or fail.
3. The presentation should last about 15-20 minutes. Each presentation can consist of 5-7 slides. The presentation must be structured as follows:
- The student clearly states the purpose, significance and expected outcome of the research/article.
- The student has to explain the research problem and questions.
- The student must outline the research methods and conclude whether the article is well structured and meets all expectations.
- The student assesses the limitations and risks when it comes to the analysis of the article and conclusions.
- The student summarises the main findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- The student must highlight the merit of the article.
- The student must outline possible improvements to the article/debate.
- The student must propose 2-3 questions for the group to discuss.
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2.
Examination |
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Attendance: 10%
Activity and readiness for seminars: 10%
Presentation and report: 40%
Final examination: 40%
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Study Course Theme Plan
PART-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Identifying and Studying Russia’s Military Ambitions and Defence Policy
Description
Annotation: Importance of topic and main research questions in the field.
How to analyze? How to evaluate? Main questions to be asked.
Methods and theoretical toolbox for analysis. Reference bases.
Russia: rebuilding an empire or suffering from a post imperial stress?
Changes in Russian imperial vision since 1991? Strengths and weaknesses.
Russian imperial pattern in relationship with former SU and CEE
Suggestions and lessons for Russian neighbors in recent years
Why Russia is challenge for us? NATO and Baltic perspective.
Most important topics related to Russian military ambitions in 2017-2021
Researching Russia why and how: Baltic and NATO perspective
Who and where are analyzing Russia: journals, centers of excellence and institutes?
Sources for data, official documents, propaganda and concepts.
Literature: Karaganov, S. (2018). The new Cold War and the emerging Greater Eurasia. Journal of Eurasian studies, 9 (2), 85-93
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Geopolitical and Geostrategic Variables of Russia’s Defence Policy: Russia’s Role in the Global Arena
Description
Annotation: Russian geopolitical thinking and geo-strategy since 1991
Russian Regional and Global Ambitions
Russia´s role in global arena: searching and finding isolation.
Roots and central ideas of Russian geopolitical thinking
Regional Hegemony" or first among the G8?
Recent trends in relations with the G7, the EU, NATO and UN.
Regional views and considerations: Baltic Sea and beyond
Geopolitical challenges for Russia in Asia: China and Japan. Is India Russian ally?
Geopolitical challenges for Russia in Middle East: Syria, Libya
Literature: Suslov, M. D. (2014). “Crimea Is Ours!” Russian popular geopolitics in the new media age. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 55(6)
Götz, E. (2015). It's geopolitics, stupid: explaining Russia's Ukraine policy. Global Affairs, 1(1), 3-10.
Veebel, V. (2017). Escaping the imperial grip of Russia, Cross-Border Journal of International Studies, 1(2017)
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Historical Aspects and Lessons of Russian/Soviet Defence Policy 1900-2021
Description
Annotation: Overview from Tzarist to Soviet and to modern Russian defence politics. Main aims, central components and critical variables.
Special aspects of Soviet defence policy impacting current Russia
Political component and impact in Russian defence policy since 2000.
Russian ideological specter impacting defence policy in 5-10 years time.
Russian strategic culture in terms of defence aspects and main contributors.
Literature: Karaganov, S., & Suslov, D. (2018). A new world order: A view from Russia. Multipolarity: The promise of disharmony.
NATO “NATO Russia Founding Act 1997”
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Theoretical Models and Concepts Explaining Russia’s Defence Policy
Description
Annotation: Realist and neorealist perspective explaining Russian defence policy
Imperialist and neo-imperial theories explaining Russian defence policy
Geopolitical explanations to explaining Russian defence policy
Historical institutionalism explaining Russian defence policy
Deterrence theory explaining Russian defence policy
Theories behind Russian nuclear policy and nuclear deterrence
Literature: Oliker, O. (2017) Putinism, Populism and the Difference of Liberal Democracy, Survival 59
Adamsky, D. 2018. From Moscow with coercion: Russian deterrence theory and strategic culture. Journal of Strategic Studies, 41(1-2), 33-60
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Russia-China Relations, Competition, Cooperation and Interests Affecting Russia’s Defence Policy
Description
Annotation: Lessons and take-away from cooperation and conflicts between China and Soviet Union in 1945-1991
Main concerns and problems in Russian Chinese defense co-operation in 1991-2020: technology transfer and copy-right problems
Comparison of current military capabilities between China and Russia
Next battlefield of Russian Chinese military competition: Republic of Belarus
Future outlook: Russia and China in global hegemony competitions and their relations with NATO
Literature: Malle, S. (2017). Russia and China in the 21st century. Moving towards cooperative behaviour. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 8(2), 136-150.
Bitzinger, R and Popescu, N. ‘Defence industries in Russia and China: players and strategies’, EU Institute for Security Studies, December 2017, p. 15. https://www.iss.europa.eu/sites/default/files/EUISSFiles/Report_38_Defence-industries-in-Russia-and-China.pdf
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Russia’s Defence and Security Partners and Alliances: The CIS, India, Syria, Etc.
Description
Annotation: Heritage from Soviet Union´s collapse in relations with CIS, India, Syria etc
Inner circle of partnership: main aims, actions and experiences within the CIS
Russian-Ukrainian defence partnership and conflicts
Russian-Indian cooperation and partnership
Russia in Middle-East: Syria, Libya and Egypt
Literature: Anna Borshchevskaya, ‘The Tactical Side of Russia’s Arms Sales to the Middle East’, Russia in the Middle East. 2017 |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Economic Constraints Affecting Russia’s Military Ambitions and Defence Policy
Description
Annotation: Russian economic developments and budgetary allocations for defence and military
Trends for financing military innovation and new weapon systems in 2018-2021
Budgetary outlook for 2021-2025 for military procurement
Central points and critical variables for NATO to pay attention related to Russian budgetary limitations for weapon development programs.
Economic outlooks for weapon sales in upcoming years.
Literature: Oxenstierna, S. (2016). Russia's defense spending and the economic decline. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 7(1), 60-70
Borovsky Y.V. The Soviet and Russian Energy Industry as Objects of Western Sanctions: Political Rivalry or Economic Competition MGIMO Review of International Relations. 2019;(3(66)):42-60. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2019-3-66-42-60
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Russia’s Military Doctrine and Forthcoming Updates Therein
Description
Annotation: Main Russian foreign and security policy doctrines in 1980-2021: central principles and main developments
Current military doctrine and its practical implementation
Importance of political and ideological changes and interests to Russian military and defence doctrines
Western doctrinal responses to Russian military goals and aims
Literature: Sokov, N. 2010. The New 2010 Russian Military Doctrine: The Nuclear Angle. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey 2010. https://www.nonproliferation.org/new-2010-russian-military-doctrine/ (accessed 21.04.2020).
Russian National Security Strategy, 2015, http://www.ieee.es/Galerias/fichero/OtrasPublicaciones/Internacional/2016/Russian-National-Security-Strategy-31Dec2015.pdf (accessed 21.04.2020).
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Student Presentations
Description
Annotation: Student presentations and feedback.
Presentations are based on a study of articles and/or policy documents (distributed during the introductory lecture). Each article must be related to the topic of the lecture on that day. By selecting an article, each student commits to presenting on that day.
Presentations are assessed; students can pass or fail.
The presentation should last about 15-20 minutes. Each presentation can consist of 5-7 slides. The presentation must be structured as follows:
- The student clearly states the purpose, significance and expected outcome of the research/article.
- The student has to explain the research problem and questions.
- The student must outline the research methods and conclude whether the article is well structured and meets all expectations.
- The student must describe the sources and data used by the author.
- The student assesses the limitations and risks when it comes to the analysis of the article and conclusions.
- The student summarises the main findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- The student must highlight the merit of the article.
- The student must outline possible improvements to the article/debate.
- The student must propose 2-3 questions for the group to discuss.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
5.00
Contact hours:
28 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Karaganov, S. (2018). The new Cold War and the emerging Greater Eurasia. Journal of Eurasian studies, 9 (2), 85-93
2.
Suslov, M. D. (2014). “Crimea Is Ours!” Russian popular geopolitics in the new media age. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 55(6)
3.
Götz, E. (2015). It's geopolitics, stupid: explaining Russia's Ukraine policy. Global Affairs, 1(1), 3-10.
4.
Veebel, V. (2017). Escaping the imperial grip of Russia, Cross-Border Journal of International Studies, 1(2017)
5.
Karaganov, S., & Suslov, D. (2018). A new world order: A view from Russia. Multipolarity: The promise of disharmony.
6.
Olga Oliker (2017) Putinism, Populism and the Difference of Liberal Democracy, Survival 59
7.
Adamsky, D. 2018. From Moscow with coercion: Russian deterrence theory and strategic culture. Journal of Strategic Studies, 41(1-2), 33-60
8.
Tertrais, Bruno. "Russia’s Nuclear Policy: Worrying for the Wrong Reasons." Survival 60.2 (2018): 33-44.
9.
Putin, V. (2020) The Real Lessons of the 75th Anniversary of World War II, The National Interest, 18.06.2020.
10.
Veebel, V. and Vihmand, L., 2020. Living in confronting or parallel strategic narratives? The reasons behind the missing security dialogue between Russia and the Baltic States. Journal on Baltic Security, 5(2), pp.17-28
11.
Lanoszka, A. (2016). Russian hybrid warfare and extended deterrence in eastern Europe. International affairs, 92(1), 175-195.
12.
Sliwa, Z., Veebel, V. and Lebrun, M. 2018. Russian Ambitions and Hybrid Modes of Warfare. Estonian Journal of Military Studies, 2018 (7), pp 86−108.
13.
Sergi, B. S. (2018). Putin's and Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union: A hybrid half-economics and half-political “Janus Bifrons”. Journal of Eurasian studies, 9(1), 52-60.
14.
Becker, U., & Vasileva, A. (2017). Russia's political economy re-conceptualized: A changing hybrid of liberalism, statism and patrimonialism. Journal of Eurasian studies, 8(1), 83-96.
15.
Frühling, S., & Lasconjarias, G. (2016). NATO, A2/AD and the Kaliningrad Challenge. Survival, 58(2)
16.
Timofeev, I. 2016 “Russia and NATO in the Baltic”, The Baltic Sea Region: Hard and Soft Security Reconsidered. 2016, Latvian Institute of International Affairs. 8 (accessed 21.04.2019).
17.
Veebel, V. and Ploom I. 2019. Are the Baltic States and NATO on the right path in deterring Russia in the Baltic?, Defense & Security Analysis, 35:4, 406-422.
18.
Clark, W., Luik, J., Ramms, E., & Shirreff, R. (2016). Closing NATO’s Baltic Gap. Tallinn: International Centre for Defence and Security, 12.
19.
Shlapak, D. A., & Johnson, M. W., Reinforcing deterrence on NATO's eastern flank: Wargaming the defense of the Baltics (Santa Monica United States: RAND Arroyo Center, 2016).
20.
Malle, S. (2017). Russia and China in the 21st century. Moving towards cooperative behaviour. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 8(2), 136-150.
21.
Richard A. Bitzinger, Nicu Popescu, ‘Defence industries in Russia and China: players and strategies’, EU Institute for Security Studies, December 2017, p.15.
22.
Anna Borshchevskaya, ‘The Tactical Side of Russia’s Arms Sales to the Middle East’, Russia in the Middle East. 2017.
23.
Аверре, Дерек. "Russia's 'strategic narratives': the case of Syria ad the 'Arab spring'." Вестник Удмуртского университета. Социология. Политология. Международные отношения 3.3 (2019): 317-325.
24.
Oxenstierna, S. (2016). Russia's defense spending and the economic decline. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 7(1), 60-70
25.
Borovsky Y.V. The Soviet and Russian Energy Industry as Objects of Western Sanctions: Political Rivalry or Economic Competition MGIMO Review of International Relations. 2019; (3(66)):42-60. (In Russ.)
26.
Sokov, N. 2010. The New 2010 Russian Military Doctrine: The Nuclear Angle. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey 2010.
27.
Petraitis, D. (2011). The Russian Military Reform 2005-2015. Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review, 9(1), 139-171.
28.
Loukianova Fink, A. 2017 The Evolving Russian Concept of Strategic Deterrence: Risks and Responses. Arms Control Association. (accessed 21.04.2019).
29.
Makarychev, A., & Sergunin, A. (2013). Russian military reform: institutional, political and security implications. Defense & Security Analysis, 29(4), 356-364.
30.
Veebel, V; Vihmand, L; Ploom, I; and Markus, R (2019), Western Misperceptions when Deterring Russia: Cultural and linguistic factors, Journal of Politics and Law Vol 13 (2)
31.
Ven Bruusgaard, K. "Russian strategic deterrence." Survival 58.4 (2016): 7-26.
32.
Rahim, S., 2018. Revisiting Putin´s 2007 Munich Security Conference Speech – Op-Ed. Eurasia Review: News & Analysis. 11 September 2018. (accessed 21.04.2020).
33.
Veebel, V. (2019). European Union as normative power in the Ukrainian–Russian conflict. International Politics, 56 (5), 697−712.
Additional Reading
1.
Задачи Вооруженных Сил Российской Федерации. Министерство обороны РФ.
2.
Gareev, M. На «мягкую силу» найдутся жесткие ответы.
Other Information Sources
1.
Russia-Ukraine War: Is peace possible in 2020?
2.
Russian National Security Strategy, 2015. (accessed 21.04.2020).
3.
NATO “NATO Russia Founding Act 1997”