This book serves as a concise yet comprehensive presentation of Russian foreign policy from 1991 (after the end of the Soviet Union) to early 2011. It begins with the ideological background and the soft and hard power of Russia. The broad middle section outlines the foreign policy, with a focus on the period after the turn of the century. This is followed by an interpretation of the policy and a concluding look at the future. Domestic political forces play at least as significant a role in the multifaceted politics of this large country in transition as they do elsewhere. Their importance is duly acknowledged. The perspective of the external observer and the view from the Russian standpoint complement each other in the presentation and interpretation.