Matthias, VogelMoghaddami, Maryam2020-08-112020-08-112020https://hdl.handle.net/1794/25501Project files are comprised of 1 page pdf and presentation recording in mp4 format.Historically an international and regional power, Russia once more dominates the headlines with Russian influence seen from Ukraine to the United Kingdom and even Bolivia. For many, Russia's rise to prominence and the concurrent conservative wave that has swept many countries in Europe and beyond serves as a chilling echo of the Soviet Union. While a lot can be said about how the modern day Russia resembles the former Communist country, one thing stands out significantly; Russia's influence in its surrounding countries. One may recall the recent almost universally condemned annexation of Crimea in 2014 while others might even think back to the controversial takeover of South Ossetia in 2008. Though these events are notable for the violent conflict that followed them, they are far from being isolated incidents. For many years now Russia has been striving to exert control over the former Soviet Republics that crowd the Russian border. Though the international media tends to focus on Russian militaristic aggression, Russia also utilizes its significant soft power in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to further Russian influence over the countries in these regions and their peoples. This project looks at the past history of Russia in relation to its neighbors and the current tactics used to exert political, economic, and cultural influence over these former Republics in order to better understand how Russia's increasing global authority is a reflection of its dominance within its sphere of influence.video/mp4application/pdfen-USCreative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0RussiaRussian Foreign PolicyFormer Soviet RepublicsSoviet UnionPresentation