Russian power in the new Eurasia

Abstract

This article considers the consequences of Russian concentration on its so‐called “near abroad,” even as it withdraws from the wider world where it continues to have real but unenforceable interests. These new border regions offer Russia challenges of their own, which require Russia to expend real resources to manage them. Russia's dilemma is that this engagement close to home is at the expense of eventual political and military influence beyond the former Soviet Union.