A 1997 Russian book outlines a grand strategy to dismantle Western geopolitical influence globally.
In short: Aleksandr Dugin’s Foundations of Geopolitics has influenced Russian military and political elites for decades. The text advocates for a neo-Eurasian empire, proposing the systematic destabilization of the United States, the annexation of neighboring states, and the formation of strategic alliances to reshape the international order against Atlanticist liberal values.
Published in 1997, Aleksandr Dugin’s Foundations of Geopolitics serves as a foundational text for a specific strain of Russian ultra-nationalist ideology. The book, which Dugin claims was adopted as a textbook in various Russian educational institutions, argues for a fundamental divide between 'Atlantic' societies—cosmopolitan and maritime-oriented—and 'Eurasian' societies, which are landlocked and focused on preservation. Dugin posits that Russia must act as the staging area for an anti-American revolution, seeking to end the geopolitical dominance of the United States and the broader collective West.
The strategy outlined is expansive and aggressive. It calls for the 'Finlandization' of Europe, the absorption of countries like Belarus and Moldova, and the dismemberment of Georgia. Ukraine is viewed as having no geopolitical meaning as an independent state, with the book arguing for its annexation by Russia. Beyond territorial expansion, the text advocates for sophisticated subversion, including the use of intelligence operations and the weaponization of natural resources to bully other nations. It also suggests fueling internal instability within the United States by supporting extremist, racist, and separatist movements to provoke social and political disorder.
While some figures like Colonel General Leonid Ivashov helped draft the work, its reception has been significant among Russian elites. Historians and analysts, such as John B. Dunlop and Timothy D. Snyder, have noted the book's role in the rise of neo-fascist sentiments and its alignment with the work of Carl Schmitt. In recent years, observers have linked the book's strategic goals to modern Russian foreign policy, including the 2023 'Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation' and the invasion of Ukraine, both of which reflect a desire to challenge the post-WWII international order and establish a multi-polar world centered on Eurasian power.
The book’s influence is not merely historical; it remains a subject of intense study for those trying to understand the ideological underpinnings of contemporary Russian statecraft. By framing Russia as a 'unique country-civilization,' the doctrine seeks to replace liberal-individualistic values with a collectivist, anti-Western framework. Whether through the 'Moscow-Berlin axis' or the 'continental Russian-Islamic alliance,' the text provides a blueprint for a global realignment that prioritizes the rejection of Atlanticism above all else.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Foundations of Geopolitics
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