Authors

Discussion

The lion's share of studies focusing on a country’s exceptional qualities in international politics focuses on the US. But for historical reasons Russia’s record has been just as absorbing and its war-torn past, in which its performance on the battlefield is in some cases more favorable than some Western powers, shapes its self-image and world view. The notion of a ‘just war’ prototype adds to the country's sense of exceptionalism. Conservative and radical theorists underscore its anti-Occidental approach and its rejection of the 'violent modernity' of the West. Implicit in their claims is that few countries have a sense of identity and of destiny as Russia: the question resonating in Russian thought is invariably Что делать.