Does Russia needs non-state actors in making and promoting its foreign policy?

Foreign policy constitutes one of the strong pillars of every nation-state; I wouldn’t say that is the most important (this depends from state to state), but for sure, is one of the dominants. Hence, the foreign policy decision making process has to serve as link between domestic intentions and external actions.

Nowadays, there are specialists and scholars in the field of international politics that argue that the state is dead or, the functions of the state are overdue. It is true that the world faced and faces substantial transformations in the last decades, but, I consider that these had the role to improve and consolidate the power and the sovereignty of state. The main objective of every state is to assure the security of its inhabitants, therefore we have to consider not the death of the state, but the complementary between its behavior and the new demandings.

This century began with tremendous challenges; apart from the traditionals one, there are the new one, as: climate change, food security, migration, to mention only a few of them. We are facing new forms of war and asymetric threats; consequently, the importance and attributes of international organizations increased and the needs for alliances became a must.

Since the term hegemony is no longer suitable in the field of international relations (hegemon of the system is an out dated theory) the fight for survive, both at regional and global level, greatly changed. Every state, defensive or offensive, in order to outlive or to be the dominant, have to externalise the elements of the foreign policy actions. The demand for non-state actors, as regarding with the other nations intentions is vital; state is a complex entity, in which every citizen can be or should be a diplomat to promote its nation believes and ideas. If, till now, societies have been conquered with gold and money, today the world is facing a civilization conflict and the winner will be those who will better impose their culture, language and habits.

This is, also, relevant for Russian Federation in order to keep its status in a globalized world. Former empire, typified by imperialism and expansion, Russian Federation is today a world great power, with aspirations to become a regional super power, the region has to find it itself: Europe or Central Asia. But, these ambitions are useless without the participations of the Russian inhabitants. Russia has an impressive culture and a monumental history. Hence, in my opinion, it has to create and involve non-state actors in this process of foreign affairs, because, firstly, there are elements that depend on people rather that state and this will strenght Russian soul and, secondly, only the homogenous nations will survive.