Features and problems in the use of "soft power" by the Russian diplomacy on the example of the Republic of Iraq

Abstract

The article is devoted to the features and problems of the Russian cultural and humanitarian policy, which form the basis of the Russian "soft power", identified in the process of studying the work of Russian diplomacy in the Republic of Iraq after the 2003 crisis. The Iraqi example was not chosen by chance: in fact, since the overthrow of the government of Saddam Hussein, the Russian Federation had to rebuild its relations with Iraq, during this process, signifi cant shortcomings, features and strengths of the Russian approach to the use of so-called “soft power” were clearly revealed. Today, this topic is especially relevant in connection with the change in the foreign policy priorities of the Russian Federation, refl ected in the new Foreign Policy Concept. In addition, the information war of Western countries against Russia requires Russian diplomacy to form and maintain a positive image of the country abroad, which is impossible without the use of the very “soft power”. The fi rst part of the article examines the principles of Russian foreign policy: from the general ones, applied to all countries, to the special ones, peculiar exclusively to Russian-Iraqi relations. The importance of all these principles lies in their fundamental role in planning any actions of Russian diplomacy in relation to the host state, including in the application of cultural and humanitarian policy instruments — “soft power”. In the next part, the cultural, humanitarian and informational components of Russian foreign policy are considered separately: their strengths and weaknesses are identified, and some proposals are made for using foreign experience in this area.