This course is designed as a seminar intended to stimulate an informed discussion among students about post Soviet Russian Foreign policy. Many of the questions do not have clear answers, but require rigorous analytical thinking. This course has two primary goals: 1) to provide the students with an understanding of the Dynamics of post –Soviet Russian Foreign Policy , and 2) to provide them a more analytical approach to studying important questions in social sciences. Given these goals, diligent reading and regular attendance are essential to be successful in this course. This class is based on the idea that we can only have productive and interesting discussions if we have something to talk about. This means that you should complete the readings before each class and be prepared to discuss what you think. I see this course as a joint endeavour to better understand the politics of a particular region of the world and, in doing so, to grapple with enduring questions in the social sciences.