This book investigates the historical and contemporary construction of Russian identity in relation to the concept of Europe and how this self-perception dictates foreign policy. Iver B. Neumann, a scholar of international relations, utilizes a constructivist framework to analyze how Russian intellectuals and political leaders have defined their nation by contrasting it with European counterparts. By examining centuries of discourse, the author argues that Russia's international behavior is fundamentally shaped by its internal struggle to reconcile its status as both a European and a non-European power. The text provides a rigorous examination of how these identity markers influence diplomatic strategies and geopolitical alignments.

Experts in the field of international relations frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the cultural dimensions of Russian foreign policy. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a solid background in political theory to fully appreciate the author's arguments.