Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract   Russia has been taking a position against military interventions in other countries and has been supporter of territorial integrity of the sovereign states, now the question is that which interests have let the country to initiate a military operation in Syria. The authors have chosen the following reasons to illustrate the new Russian policy in this regard: the Russian Federation needs to prove itself as a very powerful actor in its own security environment; the Syria, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon Hezbollah axis should be supported at the regional level; and finally the extremist Islamic groups activities in Northern Caucasia should be prevented.  

Abstract The economic and financial crisis in 2008, past to a degree, has had profound effects over the US economy and global economy. The paper shows that the crisis proved and exacerbated the weak points of the US power while it improved status of new emerging powers; and finally new changes in the international economy caused great changes in the US foreign policy. One of these changes is lessening the Middle East importance in the US foreign policy. The inclination not to intervene has led for policy of balance of power to be realized and so the US regional allies have been free to do so and thus extremism and terrorism have been improved in the region.