ABSTRACT
Twenty years after the collapse of the USSR, the course of Russia’s international politics can be characterized as a tortuous and often erratic search for a new place in the post-Soviet world order. In that search, Russia’s posture underwent many variations and even spectacular changes. Two of these occurred during Putin’s first two terms as president. No spectacular change occurred under Medvedev, but we nevertheless witnessed significant ones that took place with Putin’s acquiescence. What can we expect, therefore, in terms of continuity and change for some of Russia’s big stakes in international affairs during his new tenure?
