The Role of Russian Political Leadership in Foreign Decision-Making Process: Putin and Medvedev (Case Study)

After Putin took office in April 2000, he adopted a strategy aimed at strengthening central state authority, tightening its grip on economic and political institutions and strengthening its strategic capabilities. He sought to strengthen the Russian state at the international level, restore Russia's status among world powers, and reduce US hegemony over the international order. He began from the inside through the rebuilding of the Russian state and the building of the internal economy, giving attention to the foreign policy through the establishment of friendly relations with the countries of the Central Asian region, as well as the military and diplomatic relations and the increase of Russian military bases in the Central Asian Republics. During Putin's second term in office, Russian foreign relations became more realistic, when Russia's foreign policy goals were announced in an attempt by the political leadership to restore Russia's global role again. In 2008, Medvedev became the prime minister but this new reality did not cancel the influential role of the political leadership (Putin and Medvedev) in foreign policy; although the superficial changes in the general framework of foreign policy, the main course of foreign policy has been steady according to the orientations of the political leadership. The research will highlight the role of Russian political leadership in foreign decision-making, and answer the following questions: Does the Russian political leadership have an active role in foreign decision-making? Who gave these broad powers to the Russian political leadership? And how did Putin and Medvedev use these powers?