Russia and the Wider World in Historical Perspective Essays for Paul Dukes

This collection of original essays by leading academics explores major issues in Russia's relations with the wider world since the seventeenth century. The main emphasis is not on Russian foreign policy per se, but on the different levels of interaction between Russia, its immediate neighbours, and the wider global community, including cultural, political and economic relations. The many themes explored throughout the volume, from a range of perspectives, include Russian perceptions of non-Russians, awareness of Russia in Europe, and the extent to which Russia has been (or could be) considered part of (or separate from) mainstream European and world history. Collectively the essays reveal striking similarities between past and present issues in Russia's relations with the wider world, and they further strengthen the conviction that an understanding of Russia's place in the world order can only be successfully achieved in the new century if we endeavour first to understand the manner in which it has evolved.