The impact of Russia's new social values on its European policy

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia has been undertaking three stages in terms of foreign policy --- pro-western capitalist countries, multi-polar development and functional purpose-based tendency. As the same time, her relation with the European countries has also experienced three phrases --- depending them, balancing with the Eastern countries and cooperative and competitive coexistence. On one hand, many political, economic, military factors have played major roles in the making of Russian foreign policies with European countries. Besides, the cultural factor is also a key issue in such a process. The cultural factors may cover the geopolitics-based superpower chauvinism, different values held by Russians and other Europeans and the neo-social schools in modern Russia. Therefore, it is hard to determine that Russian foreign policies were made following one single theory or school of ideas. The Russian government has adopted the revival social values for its crucial reference in making the foreign policies lately. Among them the two special elements nationalism and neo-conservatism are growing and developing while the Western world's influence is fading away. Russian functional foreign policy is made as a result of the new trends. Russia cooperates with European countries actively and intends to protect its profits as the same time. This paper analyzes the influence of nationalism and neo-conservatism as cultural factors to the Russian foreign policy making. The neo-conservatism calls for the protection of the national profits and the consideration of functional purposes in foreign policy making. Russian policies with European countries should indicate such inclination and bilateral policies are made on the basis of mutual profit protection. The growing and revival of nationalism is another great impact towards the Russian foreign policies making with European countries. The nationalism and neo-conservatism causes Russian government's attitude shift from harsh to friendly. These cultural factors help Russia stick to its original plans and not to yield to compromise. Thus foreign collision and conflicts occur occasionally. Russian government firmly believes that both Russia and other European countries share common ground of cultural traditions and consider Europe as its important partner. However, Russia will not just copy and follow European development path, she will uphold her own unique points of view in political reforms and foreign policies dealing with world affairs and European affairs.

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