Geopolitical rivalries in the "common neighborhood" : Russia's conflict with the West, soft power, and neoclassical realism

Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1. Introduction
	Literature Review and Research Gap
	Theoretical Argument
	Structure of the Book
2. Analytical Framework
	Realism: Neoclassical Realism
	(Neoclassical) Realism on Great Power Rivalries
	(Neoclassical) Realism on the Foreign Policy of Regional States amidst Great Power Rivalries
	Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
	State Autonomy across Different Variables
	Soft Power
	Historical Review on Soft Power
	Soft Power in Theoretical Writings
	Soft Power in Practice
	Reconceptualization of Soft Power
	State-Managed Projection
	Soft Power vs. Hard Power
	Case Selection
	The Russia—West Confrontation over the “Common Neighbourhood”
	The “Common Neighbourhood” States
	Conclusion
3. Soft Power in Western Foreign Policies (2004—2016)
	Soft Power vs. Hard Power in Policies of Western Powers
	Soft Power as the Western Foreign Policy Tool
	Self-Projection
	Narratives
	International Broadcasting
	Cultural Diplomacy and Exchange Programmes
	Western NGOs and Support for Civil Society
	American Non-Governmental Organizations
	European Non-Governmental Organizations
	Foreign Aid
	American Assistance
	European Assistance
	Limitations of the Western Soft Power Policies
	Conclusion
4. Soft Power in Russia’s Practice (2004—2016)
	Soft Power vs. Hard Power in Russia’s Policies
	Soft Power as Russia’s Foreign Policy Tool
	Self-Projection
	Narratives
	International Broadcasting
	Academic Exchange Programs
	Russia’s NGOs and Support to Civil Society
	Economic Ties and Foreign Aid
	Limitations of Russian Soft Power
	Conclusion
5. States with Relatively Strong State Autonomy: The Case of Belarus
	Belarus Between the West and Russia
	State Autonomy Vis-à-vis Non-State Actors
	Non-State Actors under the Influence of External Powers
		Non-State Actors under the Influence of Russian Soft Power
		Non-State Actors under the Influence of Western Soft Power
		Non-State Actors and External Alignment
	Conclusion
6. States with Relatively Weak State Autonomy: The Case of Ukraine
	Ukraine Between the West and Russia
	State Autonomy Vis-à-vis Non-State Actors
	Non-State Actors under the Influence of External Powers
	Non-State Actors under the Influence of Russian Soft Power
	Non-State Actors under the Influence of Western Soft Power Projection
	Non-State Actors and External Alignment
	Conclusion
7. Conclusions
	The Puzzle and Theoretical Arguments
	Empirical Findings
	Implications for Theory
Bibliography