Evolution of Russia's Foreign Policy: The Role of the Ruling Elites’ Interests

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the transformation of the architecture of international relations and the evolution of Russia’s foreign policy course from “democratic solidarity” in the 1990s to “civilizational sovereignty” and the active building of a multipolar world in the 2020s. The aim is to identify the mechanisms by which the interests of the ruling elites infl uence the revision of the foreign policy doctrine of the Russian Federation. Materials and Methods. The work is carried out within a qualitative paradigm using a comparative case study. The empirical basis comprises the 1992 Charter of Russian-American Partnership and Friendship, the Foreign Policy Concepts of the Russian Federation of 2000 and 2023 as well as secondary literature. Qualitative content analysis, thematic document comparison, and institutional analysis are applied. The theoretical framework integrates the elite theory and the neo-institutional approach. Results. Using a comprehensive analytical framework that integrates the elite theory and the neo-institutional approach, the article identifi es the key mechanisms through which elite groups infl uence foreign policy: the doctrinal and conceptual framing of strategic goals in offi cial documents, the creation and transformation of institutions (such as BRICS and the SCO), and the establishment of control over the information and value agenda. The analysis of foreign policy concepts from 2000 and 2023 demonstrates how a change in dominant elite groups led to a fundamental revision of the ideological foundations and practices of Russia’s international positioning. Conclusion. The replacement of elites is a signifi cant but not the only factor in foreign policy transformation; the international situation acts as a trigger and moderator. The results can be used to predict foreign policy shifts and monitor intra-elite changes. The limitations are related to the qualitative design and the limited sampling of documents. The practical signifi cance is determined by the possibility of taking elite interests into account for scenario-based forecasting of Russia’s foreign policy. Further research can be expanded through intermediate concepts, discourse analysis, and comparison with BRICS countries.