Mobilizing Compatriots: Russia's Strategy, Tactics and Influence in the Former Soviet Union
Abstract
Since the start of Russia s annexation of Crimea and its hybrid warfare campaign in eastern Ukraine, policy experts and practitioners alike have been closely monitoring Russia s efforts to influence and potentially reintegrate the Baltic States, Ukraine, Moldova, and Kazakhstan into a Russia-centric political and economic space. These countries are all states of the former Soviet Union that have sizable ethnic Russian populations and Russian-speaking communities. As such, they present Vladimir Putin and the Russian government with an opportunity to exert influence over ethnic Russian populations by supporting local pro-Russian organizations, businesses, and Russian cultural events, and the Russian Orthodox Church. While it is not new for compatriots to feel a continuing attachment to Russia or even to consider reintegration attractive, what has become more eye opening is how and why Vladimir Putin is using Russia s strategic influence over Russian ethnic populations in the neighboring states. These actions have profound implications for U.S. and Western policy toward Russia, Europe, and Central Asia as the United States explores options for engagement and containment in the region in the years to come.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA626362
Entities
People
- Daniel Antoun
- Dmitry Gorenburg
- Michael Markowitz
- Paul Saunders
- Vera Zakem
Organizations
- Center for Naval Analyses