Russia's foreign policy goals, interests and priorities in the context of sustainable development: conceptual basis and public opinion

The study of Russia’s foreign policy interests and priorities remains relevant in modern conditions, because prospects for the development of Russia's foreign policy potential and build public support for its foreign policy course are being searched. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the key goals, interests, and priorities of the Russian Federation with regard to foreign policy. To explore Russia's foreign policy course the authors of this article analyze documents, original sociological surveys conducted among university students in Penza 2023 and 2024, and results of secondary analysis of sociological studies that examine Russians’ and young people’s attitudes toward the country’s foreign policy. The article reviews both Russian and international approaches to the study of foreign policy strategies. Also, it examines the specific features of different countries’ foreign policies. The researchers focus their scientific interests on the Russian approach. Using the Foreign Policy Concepts of the Russian Federation, the authors analyze Russia's foreign policy efforts concerning its key goals and priorities, and seek assessments and views of Russians and students about Russia's modern foreign policy. The analysis reveals that the 2023 Foreign Policy Concept differs from earlier versions in several important ways. This applies to changes in the hierarchy of regional priorities, the introduction of a triadic formula regarding challenges and threats to Russia, and a definition of the country’s key national interests. According to research, the key national interests of Russia are protecting national sovereignty, defending Russian citizens, and strengthening peace, and Russia's key foreign policy priorities are ensuring the country’s secure and peaceful existence and its revival as a world power. The theoretical significance of authors' work lies in its comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the key parameters of Russian foreign policy implementation. Its practical significance stems from the new empirical data on the foreign policy orientations of Russians and young people under current conditions.

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