Стр. 10 - V

Authors: Sergey Vashchenkov, Deputy Head, Research Center of the Academy of Management of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Science (Economics)
Andrey Kotyazhov, senior research associate at the same Center, Candidate of Science (Economics)
THE CRISIS of the unipolar world order and the United
States' unbridled efforts to deter Russia entail a growing need
for our country to enhance its national security system and
develop wide-scale international cooperation based on our
nation's global prestige and involving our active participation
in alliances of sovereign states that do not belong to any
major blocs.
NATO's buildup of military infrastructure virtually next to Russian borders, the escalation of
subversive political activity geared at hybrid warfare, the fanning of Russophobic sentiments in
foreign media, the suits filed against Russia demanding millions of dollars, and wide-scale efforts
to discredit Russian arts and sports are in effect indications of a geopolitical confrontation.
The United States has used the soft power concept for the sole purpose of giving some tempo-
rary semblance of legitimacy under international law to its illegal interference in the domestic
affairs of sovereign states.
The increasing mutual integration of former Soviet republics, Russia's leading positions in some
sectors of the world economy, the consistent defense by Moscow of Russia's national interests
at the UN Security Council, BRICS, the Eurasian Economic Union and other international or-
ganizations, and the global significance of Russian cultural, scientific and technological achieve-
ments form the basis for Russia's growing soft power potential.
Armed confrontation that, in addition to conventional weapons, involves special technologies,
information resources, and cyber networks, has received the name "hybrid warfare."
The 2010 Arab Spring upheavals represented classical hybrid warfare scenarios.
Russia's legitimate and consistent foreign policy, leading positions in international alliances, reli-
ability as an economic partner, continuously improving military infrastructure, and increasingly
efficient efforts to maintain national and public security ensure effective government and guar-
antee social and political stability in the country.
This is essential due to the ongoing sectoral sanctions against Russia, increasing anti-Russian
subversive activities by Western intelligence services, the deployment of NATO's military infra-
structure near Russian borders, the creation of a "belt of hostility" - a group of U.S.-controlled
nations, - and the cultivation of terrorism in countries that are territories of controlled chaos.
Russia should unquestionably continue the classical form of soft power policy that it pursues
and that is based on the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation. This policy
is supported by the population of Russia, by Russian-speaking communities abroad and by
friendly foreign nationals, and forms the basis for a prospective trend in the development of the
world community.
Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Soft Power as a Means of Attainment of National Geopolitical Goals