Continuity and Change in U.S.-Russian Relations as the Key Factor in Post-Cold War International Relations

Trapara, Vladimir (2014) Continuity and Change in U.S.-Russian Relations as the Key Factor in Post-Cold War International Relations. In: The Old and the New World Order between European integration and the historical burdens : prospects and challanges for Europe of 21st century: proceedings. Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade, pp. 257-274. ISBN 978-86-7067-207-9

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Abstract

The author explains why he considers Russian-American relations the key factor in international relations, even after the end of the Cold War. In spite of the Soviet collapse and Russia’s abandonment of the communist ideology, the rapprochement between the two powers has not occurred yet. The basic cause lies in the incompatibility of their identities, which is being continually reproduced. The change in distribution of power in the international system at the end of the Cold War – transformation from the bipolar into a unipolar system – made international relations less stable and predictable and therefore, more prone to the eruption of a new world conflict, especially with a relative rise of Russia’s power in the first decade of the 21st century that made it capable of confronting Washington’s hegemonic plans in a more assertive way. Nevertheless, although during the last 25 years Russian-American relations were characterized by a constant rivalry, they went through changes having both warmer and colder stages. Due to these changes, conclusions about the impact of various conditions in U.S.-Russian relations upon international relations in general (and position of Serbia in particular) can be derived as well as (relying on IR theories) predictions about what necessary is for the success of the two powers’ rapprochement in the future.

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