The Role of Leadership in Foreign Policy: A Case Study of Russia under Vladimir Putin

Abstract

International Relations has been preoccupied with the paradigmatic clashes between different theorists who rarely accommodate the role of beliefs, personalities, emotions, perceptions and decision-making processes of individual political leaders. Yet the history of international politics includes many leaders who have left a profound mark on its course, and many explanations of historically consequential events point towards the significant role of individual political leaders. The focus of this study is to understand the influence of leaders in foreign policy decision-making and the subsequent impact of the choices that they make at the international level. Towards this end, this article takes the case of Russian President Vladimir Putin and tries to assess the extent to which Russian foreign policy is a product of his inspiration and studies the impact of his policies internationally.