The collapse of communism and the disintegration of the USSR, created a new geopolitical reality, a new international environment, and a new set of international relations. This book is about Russia's foreign relations. It examines the factors that determine Russia's foreign policy, such as the economy and domestic politics. It devotes special attention to the so-called 'Russian idea' - a foreign policy determinant largely overlooked by western politicians and analysts. It attempts such an analysis by applying Russian rather than Western criteria because we are dealing here with a country with a unique culture and history.