Publication

This paper argues that the Kamchatka Peninsula in Eastern Russia could play a significant role in improving relations between Moscow and countries in the Asia Pacific region. However, the author also contends that for this to happen, two things must first occur: 1) Russia must reconcile its ongoing identity crisis over whether it is an Asian country in order to determine its political and cultural ties to Asia; and 2) Asia-Pacific states must work to bring about Russian participation in existing regional institutions.