Russia’s ‘Special Position’ (Особое положение)

Neo-Eurasianism, Civilisation-State, and the Geopolitics of Dual Hemisphere Strategy

Abstract

This research article examines Russia’s reconfiguration of its geopolitical identity under the concept of Neo-Eurasianism in the post–Cold War era. It employs the Dual-Hemisphere Strategy framework to explain Russia’s foreign policy behavior as a dynamic interaction between two key factors: (1) Systemic factors, which involve maintaining the balance of power in the Near Abroad to preserve Russia’s traditional status and constructing a new balance in the Euro-Pacific region to attain a renewed international position; and (2) Domestic identity factors, shaped by the ideas of the state-civilization and the national humiliation narrative. The analysis identifies three main trajectories within the Dual-Hemisphere Strategy: (1) a European alignment strategy, rooted in the Tsarist legacy; (2) an Asian turn, influenced by classical Eurasianism and its rejection of Western dominance; and (3) a Eurasian bridge strategy, advanced under Vladimir Putin, which seeks to balance the two hemispheres and affirm Russia’s status in the emerging multipolar order.

The study finds that the notion of the state-civilization functions as an ideological framework that legitimizes Russia’s pursuit of both status preservation and status transformation. The narrative of national humiliation, stemming from Western encirclement and condescension, has been instrumental in justifying Russia’s geopolitical assertiveness under Neo-Eurasianism, alongside its expanding role in international organizations such as the SCO, EAEU, CSTO, and BRICS. Ultimately, the research argues that the fusion of geopolitical calculation and civilizational identity-building constitutes the core of Russia’s ongoing effort to restore great-power status and shape a post-Western, multipolar world order.