Decoding Russian Power Repertoire. Evidence from Two Regions and One Domain

Building on the theory and methods developed by proponents of the practice turn in the study of international relations, this article provides an innovative examination of Russian power politics using the concept of power repertoire. The empirical focus is on the actual Russian power practices in the MENA region, in Ukraine, and in the strategically important energy domain. It identifies the key elements of the Russian power repertoire and four generic approaches – binding, pooling, wedging, and conversion – used by Russia in its pursuit of strategic objectives set by the current neo-totalitarian regime.