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Making the Best Out of a Crisis: Russia’s Health Diplomacy during COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Serena Giusti

    (Institute of Law, Politics and Development, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti

    (Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia Centre, Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), 20121 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

The article considers how Russia has reacted to the pandemic, especially in terms of foreign policy. Although internally the management of the pandemic has led to a further limitation of citizens’ freedoms, externally it has been exploited to improve the country’s image and strengthen its leverage through tactical activism and political generosity. Russia’s strategy has been articulated in two phases: first, immediate aid to countries in need in order to channel the idea of a benevolent state, directly or indirectly discrediting other countries or organisations; second, the geopolitical use of vaccines. The article stresses the relationship between science and foreign policy and analyses Russia’s health diplomacy strategy, underscoring its opportunities and challenges through the analysis of two case studies (Italy and Belarus). From a methodological perspective, the article mainly refers to foreign policy analysis (FPA), using concepts such as soft power, health diplomacy, and geopolitics.

Suggested Citation

  • Serena Giusti & Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti, 2022. "Making the Best Out of a Crisis: Russia’s Health Diplomacy during COVID-19," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:2:p:53-:d:738202
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elena Korosteleva & Irina Petrova, 2021. "Community Resilience in Belarus and the EU response," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(S1), pages 124-136, September.
    2. Fazal, Tanisha M., 2020. "Health Diplomacy in Pandemical Times," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 74(S1), pages 78-97, December.
    3. Alena Vieira, 2017. "A Tale of Two Unions: Russia–Belarus Integration Experience and its Lessons for the Eurasian Economic Union," Journal of Borderlands Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(1), pages 41-53, January.
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