‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Gorchakovism and Pragmatism in Russian Foreign Policy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Hossein Asghari 1
Jahangir Karami 2

1 دانشجوی دکترای مطالعات روسیه دانشگاه تهران

2 Department of Russian, Central Asian, and Caucasus Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran

https://doi.org/10.22034/ca.2025.729395
Abstract
Russia's foreign policy has been significantly shaped by the concept of pragmatism throughout its history, particularly in recent decades. This article seeks to provide a clearer explanation of how this pragmatism can be analyzed in the conduct of Russian statesmen. The central question posed is: how does "Gorchakovism" demonstrate the dimensions of Russian pragmatism in historical and empirical contexts? The hypothesis advanced here is that the restoration of Russia's international status after its defeat in the Crimean War (1853–1857) and the Treaty of Paris, achieved through a step-by-step diplomatic approach and the effective utilization of opportunities within Europe's geopolitical environment, established Gorchakov as a historical emblem of Russian pragmatism. To examine this hypothesis, the authors employ the theory of pragmatism in foreign policy and a qualitative analysis of historical texts, political literature, and Russia's international developments. The primary finding of this article is that in the realm of international politics, national interests can only be effectively pursued through pragmatic, calculated, and incremental diplomacy. Furthermore, abstract ideals, unless they possess tangible applicability, risk leading nations and states toward collapse and failure.

Keywords

Russia
Crimean War
Pragmatism
Gorchakov
Europe

Subjects

‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal
Volume 31, Issue 130
Summer 2025
Pages 147-170

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