Russia’s Unusual Role in the Global Order

Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has demonstrated that it has the capacity to destablize the international order, but not the capacity to fill the vacuum it is creating. Learn more when you explore WPR's coverage of Russia.

Russia occupies an unusual position on the world stage. Under President Vladimir Putin, Moscow has repeatedly demonstrated that it has the capacity to destabilize the international order, but not the capacity to fill the vacuum it is creating. While Russia lacks the military strength to challenge U.S. supremacy, no one—particularly not the NATO alliance—is ignoring its capabilities. Moscow’s use of arms sales and military engagements to build ties to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America has also attracted attention. And its massive, and growing, exports of fossil fuels to Europe offers Russia additional leverage.

Even as Moscow maintains an outsized influence on the global stage, discontent is brewing at home. Putin has dominated the Russian political scene for more than two decades, but his popularity is waning amid a slowing economy and a deeply unpopular pension reform effort. That may open space for his long-suffering political opponents to call attention to the corruption and violence that have marked his tenure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reviews an honor guard during an official welcome ceremony in Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 17, 2019 (AP photo by Darko Vojinovic).

With its sanctions on Russia, the United States has added to Putin’s problems. And American officials, including members of Congress, still see Russia as an enemy that meddled in U.S. elections and is continuing to work against American national security interests around the world. But for reasons that are difficult to determine, U.S. President Donald Trump has proven resistant to measures that could deter future Russian meddling, even as his efforts to undermine NATO and other international blocs plays into Putin’s hands.

WPR has covered Russia’s role in global politics in detail, and continues to examine key questions about future developments. Will Russia continue to be able to exploit far-flung conflicts, from Venezuela to Syria, to advance its interests without paying a cost? What steps will Putin take next to undermine the U.S.-dominated international order? And how will he simultaneously maintain his hold on Russian politics? Below are some of the highlights of WPR’s coverage.

Three years ago, Yevgeny Prigozhin barely registered a blip on Google trends in English or Russian. Today, the man better known as “Putin’s chef” is persona non grata in many places around the world, including the U.S., where the Treasury Department leveled another round of sanctions against him this week.

Putin and Domestic Politics

His popularity at home may be slipping, but even as Putin looks to bat down domestic challenges, his global influence remains undimmed.

The Cold War is over, and Russia is no longer a great power, but it has found creative ways to punch above its weight in global affairs. Under Putin’s leadership, it has overcome obstacles and reasserted its influence around the world. But despite his reputaiton for strategic brilliance, Putin’s approach is more opportunistic and ad hoc than farsighted. Whether he can convert his recent gains into a sustainable and coherent approach to foreign policy remains uncertain.