More on soft power

On September 5, 2022, the Russian president signed Decree No. 611 “On the Approval of the Concept of the Humanitarian Policy of the Russian Federation Abroad” which came into effect the same day. This concept is of considerable interest, as it logically continues a series of strategies (on foreign policy and national security) adopted recently.

A number of points, both positive and critical, should be noted. Certainly, the very emergence of a concept that emphasizes the need for cultural and humanitarian work abroad is a major undertaking, especially when referring to the relationship of such cooperation to the transformation of the global political system and the very nature of international relations.

The paper is a clear attempt at a holistic view of humanitarian policy.

As the document makes clear, the Russian approach moves beyond the unbalanced Western conception of humanitarian cooperation, which is limited to disaster relief, aid delivery, etc., and moves toward military force, referred to as humanitarian intervention. Although the Russian concept includes a clause on assistance to other countries and development of crisis response capacity (a practical and illustrative example is the work of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center in Nis, Serbia), it still places greater emphasis on informational, cultural, educational, and historical components.

Emphasis is placed on opposing the trend of cultural abolition that the collective West is trying to impose on other countries and peoples.

Paragraph 19 states that “account must be taken of the growing worldwide demand for traditional values, primarily family values, because of the aggressive imposition of neoliberal attitudes by some States”. The Russian state abroad is increasingly perceived as the guardian and protector of traditional spiritual and moral values, the spiritual heritage of world civilization (priority of the spiritual over the material, protection of human rights and freedoms, family, standards of morality and ethics, humanism, mercy). The Russian mentality is characterized by mutual assistance, collectivism and belief in goodness and justice. Along with adherence to traditional spiritual and moral values, Russian society, throughout our country's millennial history, has formed a respect for the culture, faith and customs of others.

At the same time, it is stressed that Russia adheres to non-interference in the affairs of other states.

On the other hand, there are provisions that need to be clearly rethought and elaborated. Thus, paragraph 7 states, “Russia's unique geographical position has predetermined the synthesis of European and Asian principles in the culture of its multinational Nation”. Here we see an indirect appeal to Eurasianism, although it would have been possible to emphasize imperatively that Russia is Eurasia, which has linked diverse peoples. But the term “multinational Nastion” is absurd, because a Nation cannot be multinational. Nation is a European concept that sought to level ethnic differences under the single roof of the State. It emerged during the collapse of empires and the creation of modernist States, where power was interested in finding new staples to replace the disappearing estates that previously organically constituted political units. “Multinational” is too unfortunate a term for a multi-ethnic and multi-faith Russia. If Bolivia found a solution in the word Plurinacional, one must understand that there the term “nation” refers directly to the people, so in their context it is still more or less acceptable. For Russia, on the other hand, the expression “multinational Nation” sounds not only obtuse but also politically illiterate. Because there is a Russian people, a Bashkir people, a Dagestan people and so on, but there is no Russian nation, Dagestan nation, Bashkir nation, etc.

Russia's humanitarian policy itself, according to the concept, will have the following directions

• Forming an objective perception of the Russian Federation abroad by promoting traditional Russian spiritual and moral values;
• Supporting and promoting the Russian language as a language of international communication abroad;
• Promotion of Russian culture abroad;
• Promotion of Russian science and education abroad;
• International cooperation in the field of physical culture and sports;
• International cooperation in the field of tourism;
• International youth cooperation;
• Supporting compatriots living abroad;
• Preservation of historical and cultural heritage;
• Using the capabilities of media and modern technologies to form an objective perception of Russia in the international arena.

As can be seen, almost all areas are interconnected: tourism allows foreign nationals to learn more about Russian culture in all its diversity; youth cooperation can go hand in hand with education; sports delegations can promote Russia's image abroad, as can visits by foreign athletes to Russia and support for compatriots is related to the promotion of the Russian language and preservation of historical heritage.

The Concept notes the need to counter the falsification of history, and one paragraph mentions “assistance to foreign states confronted with the free interpretation of historical events by individual states in their geopolitical interest”. In this sense, Russia has much in common with most countries in the world, and we could provide effective support to a number of countries that are unwilling to endure U.S. hegemony, especially those that have suffered from Western colonialism - there are many in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Some countries have been identified. The document states that “the development of bilateral humanitarian cooperation with Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and the State of Palestine requires special attention.... There is ample room to develop bilateral humanitarian cooperation with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela”. This posturing is rather strange. Doesn't the same development of relations with, say, Pakistan or sub-Saharan African countries require special attention? Why is there talk of broad opportunities only in the context of the Latin American region?

The section on intercultural and interreligious dialogue is commendable. Especially the emphasis on the fact that Russia has its own unique and unified civil code. But, again, the Eurasian essence of this code could have been noted.

The document specifies the bodies that are to be the legislative support for the implementation of humanitarian policy, as well as the executive bodies, first and foremost the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that are to implement it in the form of programs and projects. For now, this is only a theoretical basis. It must be full of complex content. And here the question arises: who will implement it and how? Will the necessary resources be found? Will previous, often unsuccessful, experiences with similar initiatives be taken into account? Will there be enough qualified personnel in diplomatic missions and agencies such as the Rossotrudnichestvo to make the humanitarian policy sufficiently effective and ensure the country's long-term interests? Finally, how will “soft power” be combined with Russia's “hard power”, which is now taking the form of a special military operation in Ukraine? After all, the results of “hard power” policies tend to influence the perception of “soft power”. The winners are always respected, want to be emulated and be their friends. And this should be an added incentive to defeat the West as soon as possible in the struggle for Ukraine.

Traduzione di Costantino Ceoldo