Publication

This paper examines Russia’s December 2014 military doctrine to review what, if anything, it demonstrates about contemporary Russian policy. The authors suggest that while on the surface, the 2014 doctrine does not differ significantly from previous versions, particular details tell a different story. Indeed, they contend that the main theme of the doctrine is Moscow's rivalry with the West and that certain changes suggest that Russia may now see potential interventions in its neighborhood, such as by NATO, as a provocation to war. This also suggests that a message being sent through the doctrine is that Russia's neighborhood should be regarded as its own sphere of influence, which Moscow will defend by all means necessary.