THE CONCEPT OF THE 'RUSSIAN WORLD' AS AN INSTRUMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOFT POWER IN THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Phenomenon of the soft power in international relations theory has been quite intensively investigated in recent years. However this research rather reflected the soft power in the Western perception. Specifics of the soft power (and its tools) in the perception of countries such as China Russia or Brazil have been developed only in a few specialized studies. Most of the researchers within the frame of international relations could not imagine effective soft power tools in Russian foreign policy. For this reason was drawn this study. The study deals with a potential of soft power in the Russian concept. Authors of the study analyze broad-spectrum concept known as the 'Russian world'. Through this concept Russia implements its soft power abroad. The authors point out that the Russian concept of the soft power is different significantly compared to the American (the West) model of the soft power and present specific instruments promoting Russian soft power abroad. Success or failure of the concept of the 'Russian world' is subsequently evaluated in the conclusion.