This chapter explores some of the ideational, normative and material factors that have affected Russia's strategic thought and action and considers what insights they may provide for the future. Two of the main sources of Russia's strategic culture are geography and history. The territory covered by Russia, represents a vast land mass, stretching from Europe in the West to China in the East. In considering the nature of Soviet strategic culture, it may be useful to distinguish between Soviet grand strategy and Soviet military strategic culture. As a reaction to several domestic and international pressures, Mikhail Gorbachev announced a new foreign policy based on new political thinking. As Mikhail Gorbachev stated it 'the backbone of the new way of thinking is the recognition of the priority of human values, or, to be more precise, of humankind's survival'. The Gorbachev period was marked by a shift in emphasis in military doctrine towards the prevention of war.