ABSTRACT
The foreign policy of Russia—whether in its tsarist, its Soviet, or its post-communist form—is an expression in some measure of certain relatively fixed geopolitical realities. Russia’s distinctive approach to foreign policy, it is argued, arises not from a sense of insecurity, but from ideology. Russian incursions into Chinese territory in the Amur River region, in violation of the provisions of the Treaty of Nerchinsk, actually began just prior to the war and were intensified during the conflict, in anticipation of an Anglo-French naval attack. Although Russia is a country rich in natural resources, its harsh climate limits the ability to exploit them. In evaluating the legacy of the tsars, one can, however, surmise that certain lessons could be drawn from the history of the Russian Empire to help guide the foreign policy of both communist and democratic successors. Not surprisingly, the dominant theme most analysts find in the foreign policy of Russia under the tsars is that of expansionism.
