Status‑Seeking and the Myth of Russia’s Great Power Role

What is it about?

This chapter challenges the widespread belief that Russia is a “Great Power.” While many scholars, policymakers, and Russian leaders themselves present Russia as a global heavyweight, the evidence shows a different picture. Historically, Russia has often played a secondary role in European and international politics, relying on inflated claims of status rather than consistent capabilities. The chapter introduces the idea of Great Power Ideology—a narrative Russia uses to project prestige—and explains how Russia’s foreign policy operates through nested asymmetric relations, where it leverages limited resources to appear stronger than it is. By reframing Russia as a regional power with outsized ambitions, the chapter offers new ways to understand its actions in Ukraine and beyond, and cautions against policies built on mistaken assumptions of Russian strength.

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Why is it important?

Western strategies toward Russia often swing between containment and accommodation, both rooted in the assumption that Russia is a genuine “Great Power.” This chapter argues that such approaches misfire because they misdiagnose Russia’s actual position. For scholars, it refines debates on status in IR by grounding them in Russia’s historical trajectory and introducing Great Power Ideology as a distinct lens, showing how status‑seeking operates as a persistent narrative shaping foreign policy. For public audiences, it clarifies why Russia’s rhetoric of grandeur does not align with its economic and demographic realities—a crucial insight for grasping the trajectory of the war in Ukraine.

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