ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in subsequent chapters of this book. The book reviews the Foreign Policy Concepts, Military Doctrines, and National Security documents from Putin and Medvedev presidencies as well as presidential statements. It also reviews underlying differences between the goals of Russia, the U.S., and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in these areas of policy and why reaching agreements is difficult. The book examines the points of departure between the two presidents and evaluates the key differences between Medvedev and Putin's policies. It focuses on the Russia's threat perception of the NATO, the institutional arrangements that exist between Russia and NATO as well as areas of cooperation and contention between Russia and the alliance. The book examines Russia's security interests as discussed in policy documents and by Russian leaders. It concludes a final assessment of Medvedev's role in Russia's Euro-Atlantic security policy.
