Russia's security policy is undeniably complex, a system of political, economic, and social networks that influence the identification of potential threats, and anticipates the steps necessary to strengthen the state's infrastructure. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has had the difficult task of dealing not only with historically relevant issues, such as border control and maintaining international alliances, but with new concerns such as improving relations with former Soviet states and negotiating with potentially hazardous groups, such as NATO and the EU. While there are certainly different views on the topic of Russia's security policy, in terms of whether their practices have demonstrated a continuous or changing context within which to frame their growing concerns, the matter is perhaps not quite so clear-cut; taking into consideration the many new challenges brought on by increasingly fast-paced globalization and the need for Russia to adapt quickly while maintaining their autonomy and rich tradition, one could claim that the country's current security policy demonstrates both a change-in-progress coming to terms with the implications of continuous patterns.
[...] Historically, Russian policy in dealing with these regions has been principally guided by political leader's perception of the state's strength (or lack thereof) in regard to neighboring competitors; because there has been so much recent confusion regarding borders and control, the perception of potential threats has grown, and disorganized border patrol only adds to the waning security (in basic terms) of these demarcations (Suny 36). According to Suny, the question is not but Russia will come to be involved in these bordering states, former USSR nations that are quickly becoming part of the EU family. [...]
[...] These divided internal views regarding NATO and the EU create a security crisis, in that it is difficult for a governing group to develop workable security policy when there are differing views on the intent and usefulness of these groups. Again, this situation is one in which a continuous context is clearly ineffective in dealing with such complex, and multi-faceted, matters when confronted with the task of determining whether or not an alliance could impose on the state's sovereignty and interests. [...]
[...] Trenin's point is quite valid; in adapting to a changing security environment, Russia has had to adapt the outward presentation of themselves as well this frenetic and multi- faceted approach to policy may help secure short-term goals but, in terms of larger aims, it is essential that policy have a more specific, and unified, aim. The fact that ideological divisions within the state itself are at odds regarding Russia's relationship with the EU and NATO does not help matters. Liberal Westernizers, for example, promote the idea that Russia should adopt a long-tern strategy for joining the EU, with a caveat that provides for security partnership (Allison 75). [...]
[...] Moving on from solely political and economic concerns that impact security concepts, it is also necessary to consider social and cultural issues arising from the breakup of the Soviet Union as catalysts for potential long-term problems. Several factors are posing a challenge to a new generation of Russians, the greatest of which seems to be a rapidly declining population. Partly prompted by the psychological impact of the dissolution of the USSR, this decline is also impacted by migration, poor health conditions and reduced health coverage. [...]
[...] Inherently, then, issues of security are linked to the social welfare of Russian citizens while much attention is being paid to the complexities of NATO and the EU, if Russia does not have an adequate governing body, or military resources, issues of security will be entirely moot in the face of a nation incapable of defending itself from more advanced countries. Clearly, these points illuminate the fact that globalization plays a large role in Russia's current security situation. Globalization inspires both the need to preserve Russia's rich history and tradition, in the fact of an increasingly homogenized global landscape, as well as the necessity to change in order to gain a place in the global market. [...]
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