Russia in Global Affairs
Russia in Global Affairs is a Russian foreign-policy and international-relations journal that examines Russia’s role in global affairs, globalization, and changing international orders.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Russia in Global Affairs is a Russian scholarly and analytical journal focused on international relations, Russian foreign policy, globalization, geopolitics, and the evolution of the international system. Its first issue was dated November–December 2002, and the publication was created within the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy’s “Russia and Globalization” project. The journal was conceived as a substantial, analytical periodical rather than a daily news outlet: its stated purpose was to interpret broad political trends and provide informed discussion for readers interested in world affairs. The publication was initially established by the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Izvestia publishing house. From late 2002 through 2003 it appeared quarterly; from January 2004 it adopted a bimonthly schedule modeled in part on Foreign Affairs. The journal has generally presented a mixture of original analysis by Russian and foreign specialists and translated or reprinted material from other prominent international-affairs publications. Its contents have addressed Russia’s place in the post-Cold War order, relations with Europe and the United States, the transformation of global governance, regional security, economic globalization, and the strategic consequences of shifts in world power. An important part of the journal’s early identity was its relationship with the American publication Foreign Affairs. The two journals established a content-exchange arrangement under which selected articles could be translated and published in the counterpart edition. The English-language edition of Russia in Global Affairs was introduced in January 2003, helping the journal reach researchers and policy audiences outside Russia. Czech and Polish editions followed in 2005 and 2006 respectively. These editions reflected an ambition to serve as an interpretive bridge between Russian debates and foreign academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. Fyodor Lukyanov has served as editor-in-chief since the journal’s founding. Sergey Karaganov has headed its editorial board. The journal’s editorial network has included senior diplomats, international-relations scholars, university leaders, policy specialists, and former officials from Russia and other countries. Among the figures associated with its editorial board or institutional network are Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, MGIMO rector Anatoly Torkunov, former Swedish prime minister and foreign minister Carl Bildt, former U.S. Treasury official C. Fred Bergsten, former Foreign Affairs editor Gideon Rose, French Institute of International Relations founder Thierry de Montbrial, Russian International Affairs Council president Igor Ivanov, and Chinese military and international-affairs figure Xiong Guangkai. The journal is connected institutionally with Russian foreign-policy and strategic-policy circles, particularly through SVOP, RIAC, and its editorial leadership. It is generally characterized as non-oppositional toward the Russian authorities, while presenting itself as an analytical and scholarly-educational publication rather than an official government periodical. Its positioning occupies a middle ground between highly technical academic journals and official policy communications: articles are intended to be rigorous and informed but accessible to a broader readership with an interest in foreign affairs. In February 2013 the journal was re-registered following a change in its founders. SVOP remained involved, while the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Izvestia were replaced by the Russian International Affairs Council and RIA Novosti. The publication continues to operate under the Russia in Global Affairs name and remains associated with Russian debates about international strategy, global order, and foreign policy.
History
Russia in Global Affairs emerged in 2002 from the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy’s effort to promote discussion of Russia’s position in a changing international system. The first issue, dated November–December 2002, was presented as a substantial analytical journal rather than a rapid-response news publication. Its editorial mission was to examine structural developments in world politics and help Russian readers understand international trends, particularly developments in the West and the consequences of globalization. The original institutional founders were SVOP, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Izvestia publishing house. Fyodor Lukyanov became editor-in-chief at launch and has held that position since. Sergey Karaganov became chairman of the editorial board. The journal’s early content dealt with Russia’s role after the collapse of the Soviet bipolar system, the future of world governance, relations between Russia and the United States, and the country’s place in wider European and global structures. The journal initially appeared quarterly. In January 2004 it moved to a bimonthly schedule, publishing six issues a year. Its format combined original contributions from Russian and foreign experts with translations or reprints from other international-affairs publications. A prominent early partnership was established with Foreign Affairs, including reciprocal publication of translated articles and cooperation between the two publications’ websites. This relationship gave the journal an international reference point and supported its ambition to connect Russian and foreign policy communities. The English edition was presented on 16 January 2003. It was intended for foreign scholars and readers interested in Russia and Eastern Europe and included translated work by the journal’s authors alongside material from other Russian publications. A Polish edition was launched in Warsaw on 10 February 2005, and a Czech edition was introduced in Prague on 21 February 2006. The Czech project involved the Russian embassy in the Czech Republic, RIA Novosti’s local office, and the journal’s Russian editorial office. These language editions extended the publication’s outreach beyond Russia and were explicitly framed as efforts to improve understanding and restore intellectual contacts between Russia and Central or Eastern Europe. The journal’s institutional structure changed in 2013. On 20 February it was re-registered after a change in its founders. SVOP remained associated with the publication, while the Russian International Affairs Council and RIA Novosti replaced the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Izvestia. This change reinforced the journal’s connection to organizations active in Russian international-relations policy and analysis. The publication’s editorial identity has remained policy-oriented but not formally governmental. Its authors and board members have included diplomats, academics, former officials, and international-policy specialists with varying perspectives. The journal is generally described as close to Russian foreign-policy and strategic-policy circles and not aligned with the political opposition. At the same time, its own positioning emphasizes analytical independence from narrow official structures and a broader range of ideas than a ministry publication. It aims to make complex foreign-policy issues accessible to informed non-specialists while retaining a scholarly and educational character. The journal has also received attention in Russian academic evaluation. It was classified as a medium-level publication in a 2015 expert assessment of Russian scholarly journals conducted by the Higher School of Economics. The Russian Science Citation Index has been cited as assigning it an impact factor of 0.328, although the relevant measurement period is not specified in the available reference material. Russia in Global Affairs remains an active publication brand centered on long-form interpretation of Russia’s international environment and global political change.
- 2015
Classified as a medium-level scholarly publication
[1]A Higher School of Economics expert assessment placed the journal in the medium-level group of Russian scientific publications.
- 2013
Founders changed and publication re-registered
[1]SVOP remained involved, while RIAC and RIA Novosti replaced two of the original founding organizations.
- 2006
Czech edition launched
[1]The Czech version was introduced in Prague and subsequently reported interest from universities and local readers.
- 2005
Polish edition launched
[1]A Polish-language version was presented in Warsaw in cooperation with local media and Russian institutional partners.
- 2004
Bimonthly publication schedule adopted
[1]The publication shifted from quarterly to bimonthly release, producing six issues per year.
- 2003
English edition launched
[1]The English-language edition was presented on 16 January, extending the journal’s reach to international researchers and policy audiences.
- 2002
Pilot and inaugural issue published
[1]The journal began publication with an issue dated November–December 2002 as part of SVOP’s Russia and Globalization project.
Products and positioning
A scholarly and policy-oriented international-affairs publication positioned between a specialist academic journal and an official foreign-policy periodical. It emphasizes long-form analysis, strategic interpretation, and accessible discussion of Russia’s relations with the wider world.
International-relations journal · 2002
Russia in Global Affairs
The core publication is a scholarly and policy-oriented journal addressing Russian foreign policy, globalization, geopolitics, security, international institutions, and changes in the global balance of power. It publishes long-form analytical articles by Russian and foreign specialists and is issued on a bimonthly schedule. Its intended audience includes diplomats, researchers, policy professionals, university readers, and informed members of the public.
International-relations journal edition · 2003
English-language edition
Introduced in January 2003, the English edition translated selected material from the Russian publication and made the journal’s analysis available to foreign specialists in Russia, Eastern Europe, and international affairs. It also formed part of the publication’s early effort to connect Russian policy debates with overseas scholarly and diplomatic communities.
International-relations journal edition · 2005
Polish-language edition
The Polish edition was presented in Warsaw in February 2005. Its launch broadened the journal’s Central European readership and was associated with efforts to communicate Russian views on diplomacy and international politics to Polish-language audiences.
International-relations journal edition · 2006
Czech-language edition
Introduced in Prague in February 2006, the Czech edition was developed with participation from Russian diplomatic and media institutions and the journal’s Russian editorial office. It was intended to provide Czech readers with analytical material about Russia and international relations and was reported to have attracted interest from universities.
Brand decisions
2013
Re-registered after a change in founding organizationsStrategyBackground
The publication revised its formal institutional structure while retaining the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy as a founder.
Action taken
The Russian International Affairs Council and RIA Novosti replaced the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Izvestia among the listed founders.
Aftermath
The journal became more closely associated with major Russian organizations focused on international-relations analysis and foreign-policy communication.
2004
Adopted a bimonthly publishing modelStrategyBackground
The journal had appeared quarterly during its first year of publication and sought a more regular schedule comparable to established international-affairs journals.
Action taken
Beginning in January 2004, it moved to six issues per year.
Aftermath
The bimonthly schedule became the publication’s standard periodical format.
2003
Introduced the English-language editionProduct launchBackground
The journal sought to reach foreign scholars and policy readers interested in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Action taken
It launched an English edition containing translated articles by its contributors and material from other Russian publications.
Aftermath
The edition expanded the journal’s international distribution and supported its role as a bridge between Russian and foreign policy communities.
Recent events
- 2013
Journal re-registered following a change in founders[1]
M&A
SVOP retained its role, while RIAC and RIA Novosti replaced the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Izvestia among the named founders.
- 2006
Czech edition introduced in Prague[1]
Product launch
A Czech-language version was launched through cooperation involving the Russian embassy, RIA Novosti’s local office, and the journal’s Russian editorial team.
- 2005
Polish edition presented in Warsaw[1]
Product launch
The journal introduced a Polish-language edition at an event held at the Polish Press Agency headquarters.
- 2004
Publication changes to a bimonthly schedule[1]
Other
After publishing quarterly during its first period, the journal adopted a six-issues-per-year schedule.
- 2003
English-language edition presented[1]
Product launch
An English edition was introduced to make the journal’s analysis available to researchers and policy readers outside Russia.
- 2002
Russia in Global Affairs launches as a new foreign-policy journal[1]
Product launch
The journal released its pilot and inaugural issue within the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy’s Russia and Globalization project.
Sources2 sources
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