Abstract
Today, strategic culture becomes an essential element of the national security policy of the Russian Federation. While absorbing some modern aspects, its strategic culture reflects historical lessons learnt by the Russian Empire and the USSR. Russia still cannot refuse from the idea to restore its superpower status and to fight for new territories. Thus, we can define a number of essential elements of the Russian strategic culture formed in relation to the historical and contemporary development of this state. Throughout the history, the Russians have legitimized the decisions and activities of the ruling elites. As the Russian leadership has long built up powerful associations which had taken root in the minds of people while remembering patriotism and love for their Motherland, the Russians believe in the importance of maintaining and enhancing patriotic feelings. While cultivating its civilizational and cultural detachment, Russia continues developing its own messianic idea which envisages the views of the special historical kismet of Russia. In order to fulfill its global tasks, Russia uses the policy of military interventions and violates state sovereignty of other countries, since the ‘militant’ political culture of its leaders has always militarized the strategic culture of the RF.
 So, the strategic culture of Russia emanates from the unique position and history of this state which manages to adapt it to the new realities. However, Russia’s aspirations to reclaim its status as a global superpower at any cost do not allow its strategic culture to be changed or even to be altered.
Highlights
In the process of transforming the global system of international relations and corresponding changing the role of its key actors on the international arena, the majority of modern political theories try finding new variables that determine the influence of states in the world
Culture surely becomes one of the most important factors forming the strategy of a state on the international arena and, allows us to talk about the phenomenon of strategic culture as an important element of the international political analysis
Considering the steps taken by the leaders of the Russian Federation in the security sector in order to enhance the authority of this state and expand its power in recent years, we can state that the strategic culture of this actor of international relations should be one of the central elements of contemporary political studies because it directly influences the style of strategic behaviour of this country on the global stage
Summary
In the process of transforming the global system of international relations and corresponding changing the role of its key actors on the international arena, the majority of modern political theories try finding new variables that determine the influence of states in the world. Active transformations of the modern international agenda made political scientists expand the notion of strategic culture and, derive it from the long lasting and pervasive strategic preferences about the role of military force in international relations, and from the norms, ideas and patterns of state behaviour helping an actor to achieve its security and defence goals (Greathouse, 2010: 63) From this perspective, Laura Chappell identifies strategic culture with historical experience of each particular state and outlines it as “a set of beliefs, attitudes and norms towards the use of military force” (Chappell, 2009: 419). Considering the steps taken by the leaders of the Russian Federation in the security sector in order to enhance the authority of this state and expand its power in recent years, we can state that the strategic culture of this actor of international relations should be one of the central elements of contemporary political studies because it directly influences the style of strategic behaviour of this country on the global stage
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