1st Edition
Putin’s “Turn to the East” in the Xi Jinping Era
Rozman, Christoffersen, and a team of expert contributors analyze the evolution of Vladimir Putin’s reorientation to Asia since 2012.
When Putin announced a “Turn to the East” in Russian foreign policy upon his return to the presidency, this was to be strategic reorientation emphasizing multilateralism. As the years have passed, however, this has turned into a tight reliance on the bilateral relationship with China. Rozman, Christoffersen, and their team explore how the “Turn” proceeded and developed over the course of a decade, ending by examining the impact of the Ukraine war on Sino-Russian relations. Their analysis focuses on Russia’s perspective, taking into account an extensive range of Russian publications to look at how priorities shifted. While affirming the continued strengthening of ties between Beijing and Moscow, they identify many tensions between them, noting especially Russia’s illusions about the relationship.
A comprehensive review of Russian policy toward the Indo-Pacific, which is essential reading for courses on Russian foreign policy and international relations in East Asia.
Introduction
Gilbert Rozman and Gaye Christoffersen
Part 1 Conceptualizing the Big Picture
1. Tracking Russia’s ‘Turn to the East’
Gilbert Rozman
2. Debating Russia’s ‘Turn to the East’
Gilbert Rozman
3. The Illusion that Realism Is Driving Sino-Russian Relations
Katie Stallard and Gilbert Rozman
Part 2 Turning in Multiple Directions
4. The Russian Far East and China’s Northeast: A Decade in the Shadow of the Belt and Road Initiative
Gaye Christoffersen
5. Central Asia over a Decade: The Shifting Balance between Russia and China
Gaye Christoffersen
6. Russian Thinking about the Korean Peninsula and the US Role There over a Decade
Gilbert Rozman
7. Russian ‘Turns to the East’ yet away from Japan
James D.J. Brown
8. Mongolia: Russia’s Best Friend in Asia?
Sergey Radchenko and Mendee Jargalsaikhan
9. Conceptualization of the Indo-Pacific in Russia’s ‘Turn to the East’
Gilbert Rozman
Part 3 Reconciling the Ukraine War and the "Turn to the East"
10. Russian Thinking about CSTO Peacekeeping: Central Asia, China, and the Ukraine War
Gaye Christoffersen
11. Russian Thinking on Sino-Russian Relations and the Ukraine War
Gilbert Rozman
Biography
Gilbert Rozman is the Emeritus Musgrave Professor of Sociology at Princeton University, USA, and Editor-in-chief of the Asan Forum.
Gaye Christoffersen is former Professor International Politics, Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, Hopkins-Nanjing Center.
