The recent SolarWinds hack demonstrated the willingness and expertise of cyberspies to penetrate thousands of networks by targeting a single entity. This issue is becoming ever more worrying for...Show moreThe recent SolarWinds hack demonstrated the willingness and expertise of cyberspies to penetrate thousands of networks by targeting a single entity. This issue is becoming ever more worrying for the West due to the public attribution of the SolarWinds hack to the Russian government. The Russian government is becoming more assertive in cyberspace. One of their main activities is cyber espionage. Nevertheless, the cybersecurity literature is heavily focused on the technical aspects and makes assumptions for foreign entities’ motivations and intentions based on U.S. understanding of cyberspace. The applications of classical international relations theories to cyberspace phenomena, like cyber espionage, is scarce in the political science literature on this topic, which is mainly policy-oriented. Therefore, this paper will try to fill that gap by analysing Russia’s cyber espionage strategy through the prisms of offensive realism. The theory of Mearsheimer (2014) describes Moscow’s cyber espionage strategy to a certain extent, and it prescribes certain areas on which the Kremlin is most likely to focus. This research will benefit the academic and professional community alike, as it can provide additional tools for cyber espionage activities’ attribution.Show less
This thesis aims to analyse how the commemoration of the battle of Berlin (1945) changed in the post-war Soviet Union and later, the Russian Federation. This analysis is made by examining specific...Show moreThis thesis aims to analyse how the commemoration of the battle of Berlin (1945) changed in the post-war Soviet Union and later, the Russian Federation. This analysis is made by examining specific monuments and other sites of commemoration, such as museums and parks. This thesis adds to pre-existing research into memory culture in the Soviet Union and the early years of the Russian Federation.Show less
This paper will retrace the impact of Tatar nationalism on the para-diplomatic activities of the Republic of Tatarstan since the beginning of its sovereignty project in 1990. Moreover, it will try...Show moreThis paper will retrace the impact of Tatar nationalism on the para-diplomatic activities of the Republic of Tatarstan since the beginning of its sovereignty project in 1990. Moreover, it will try to introduce in its analysis some often ignored element of Tatarstan foreign relations, such as the Tatar diaspora and migration. It should be noted that, because of a lack of sources and available data, a large part of the study will concentrate on the first two decades of the RT, between 1990 and 2010, but it will nevertheless include more recent events when possible. The importance of this topic is not only linked to the lack of academic research, but also to the current instability facing the Russian Federation and the rise of a renewed nationalist sentiment among various ethnic minorities, including Tatars. Furthermore, the gradual withdrawal of autonomy rights by Putin administration puts Tatarstan and its political elite in a difficult position and opens the door for a renewal of ethnic and political tensions.Show less
After Putin’s re-election in 2012, a shift in foreign policy could be observed, which was characterised by renewed hostility towards the West and a rapprochement of global partners of the Russian...Show moreAfter Putin’s re-election in 2012, a shift in foreign policy could be observed, which was characterised by renewed hostility towards the West and a rapprochement of global partners of the Russian Federation. This thesis aims to explore the role of identity politics in this foreign policy shift by assuming that such notions are influenced by the ‘identity dilemma’ left after the fall of the Soviet Union. Through a constructivist lens, this paper finds material as well as identity interests to be mutually constructive and employs this framework throughout. Three empirical chapters explore the relationship of Russia with one of its important regional partners and examine the decisions and motivations in the regions after the foreign policy shift. Through the analysis of Russian bilateral relations with the Middle East, Europe and China the thesis identifies three main trends influenced by identity politics namely, (1) the importance of Central Asia, (2) the use of energy as a method of achieving Great Power status and (3) the undying competition of Russia with its Western counterparts. From the research, the thesis finds that identity politics cannot be ignored, and has a position of importance Russian decision-making processes during and after the 2012 foreign policy shift.Show less
This thesis discusses the instrumentalization of cultural heritage within political conflict by the Russian Federation in the case of Scythian Gold. It gives a discourse analysis of statements made...Show moreThis thesis discusses the instrumentalization of cultural heritage within political conflict by the Russian Federation in the case of Scythian Gold. It gives a discourse analysis of statements made about the conflict and discusses the instrumentalization of Scythian Gold within the conflict and within the Russian Federations nation-building.Show less
