Comparative Study of Russian Foreign Policy under Putin and Medvedev Periods

Russia's foreign policy after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the formation of this country has been a lot of ups and downs. The formation of the grand principles of Russian foreign policy based on multi-polar world, conservatism, realism and balance of power has taken shape. The first period of Russian foreign policy in the form of the "common European house" was introduced. During this period (1991-1995) and continues the policy of "new thinking" Gorbachev, the Russian Federation and the use of advanced technology integration of Western capitalist economic system be considered. In the second period, from 1996 to the State Department by Primakov's tenure began, the shift in Russian foreign policy began to look to the East and the West can be considered. In the second stage, a balance between looking to the East and West was maintained, but Putin who is the embodiment of the third period of Russian foreign policy, introduced two special features for Russian foreign policy. First, Russia's foreign policy was to be a great pragmatist and secondly, from 2000 onwards Putin was looking for a strategic partnership with Europe and particularly with the United States. On the other hand, Putin set out to re-establish the glory of Russia by returning to the principles of Soviet Russia foreign policy but not in terms of ideology but rather by relying on Russian nationalism and authoritarianism and his doctrine on the foundations of Russia's foreign policy and national security can be established. The authoritarianism and aspires to return to the power and authority of Soviet Russia is shown in Russian foreign policy during Putin and "Medvedev" periods. In this paper we investigate the claim that despite the creation of the "Putin-Medvedev" and the president and prime minister, continued the cycle of their sovereignty, is there any fundamental difference in principle between performance and overall concept for Putin and Medvedev's foreign policy or Medvedev as Putin continues the way he is, but with some minor changes in the policy?