A Balancing Act

Abstract

In June 1994 Russia agreed to sign NATO's Partnership for Peace framework document (PFP). From the time the PFP concept was proposed, in October 1993, the Russian government has had to probe NATO's intentions, clarify its own ambitions, and adjust its foreign policy to domestic political processes. The balancing act eventually succeeded. This article investigates the path that led to the June 1994 agreement, rocky as it was. By assessing the domestic Russian factors underpinning the government's position, and how the balance between them shifted, the study tracks the formation of the Russian position. This position was intimately linked to the international bargaining, and the article subsequently probes the strategies pursued in this domain, as well as the corresponding position of NATO. Throughout the analysis the potent linkages between the domestic Russian scene and the international arena are illuminated. Capturing the driving forces underlying Russian foreign policy and successful bargaining strategies, the study explores implications for Russian foreign policy within a European security context.