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Iver B. Neumann, Which Honor?, International Studies Review, Volume 15, Issue 4, December 2013, Pages 620–621, https://doi.org/10.1111/misr.12058
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Extract
The starting point of this book is that “Russia's cultural lenses are different from those of Western nations and have been formed by locally distinct historical memory, ties with historic allies, and contemporary challenges” (p. 52). The “cultural lens” singled out for discussion as a key determinant of Russian foreign policy is honor. The author finds that Russian senses of honor rest on ideas about spiritual freedom, a strong state, and what he refers to as cultural allies. When these are satisfied in the form of Western recognition, the historical result has been cooperation with the West. When they are not, the result has been either Russian defensiveness when the regime's domestic legitimacy has been low or Russian assertiveness when it has been high. This, the author surmises, is in keeping with the expectations of constructivism, which would expect a recognized state to be disposed toward cooperation, a non-recognized and weak state to be disposed toward defensiveness, and a non-recognized and strong state to be disposed toward aggressiveness. Russia's historical record as he draws it up is not, and in contrast, in keeping with different variants of realism, which would have other expectations. The gist of the book, then, is that Russia's foreign policy tradition should not be understood in terms of a single-minded pursuit of power, as do authors such as John Mearsheimer and John LeDonne. It may, rather, be better grasped in terms of Russia's own understanding of how its honor is faring in the give and take of world politics.
