Methods of U.S. political influence in the Ex-Soviet Union and their impact on the Russian-American relations

Abstract

Methods of U.S. political influence in the Ex-Soviet Union (and their impact on the Russian-American relations) 1. Recent mechanisms for the implementation of U.S. policy in the post-Soviet states based on examples such as Ukraine and Georgia.

2. Areas of confrontation between Russia and the U.S in the Post-Soviet zone.

The aim of the dissertation is to reveal the mechanisms of political influence on the processes of the United States in the states of the former Soviet Union in the context of relations between the U.S. and Russia.

The importance of the research.

The biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the end of the XX century - the collapse of the Soviet Union transformed a superpower in a vague and amorphous "post-Soviet space." In this space, up until nowadays, after two decades, turbulent processes continue, which have an uncertain effect on the prospects for the formation and development of the Ex-soviet states. In fact, ex-USSR area is an area of major importance for U.S.: -first of all, as an additional reliable supplier of primary energy resources and an important transit zone and, -second of all, as a means of limiting the influence and weakening of Russia - the most influential and important player in the post-Soviet area. In the 1990s, Russia was weak and unsuccessful, but now things are changing. If Russia is able to make progress towards economic and social modernization and democratization of its political system, it will inevitably become a powerful center of attraction for the nearest neighbors, their economic and political union on a new basis. There are big concerns in Washington that Russian Federation in the long term, could directly or indirectly integrate the post-soviet states, and become a new superpower. Growing discussion and struggle between the supporters and their critics in regards to the strategy for the post-Soviet area is observed. All this leaves no doubt as to the need for continued study of motivations, forms and methods of the evolution of U.S. policy in the post-Soviet zone and its comparison with Russian interests in the area.

The relevance of the research is conditioned by significant recent intensification of political efforts of the United States in the direction of trying to reorganize the post-Soviet space(example Ukraine, Georgia). This approach is in direct contradiction with Russia's development goals. Therefore, the analysis of the processes and mechanisms of the U.S. political influence in the Ex-Soviet area, is of major importance, because it would reveal the inner motives of their implementation and will make it possible to predict the development options of the situation in the short and long term.