Russia?s struggle for developing soft power and the influence of Russia?s soft power on its foreign policy

Decreasing its power with the disintegrating of the Soviet Union, Russia, in the era of Putin has begun to gather its former power and even partly has accept today world?s international system tools to fill the power gap in the Middle Asia. With this intention; Russia tries to integrate with the whole world, including even the actors with whom interests are not matching and it is in the part of the most common international institutions of the contemporary world. Besides these struggles, its different interpretations on democracy; the influence on economy by the govenment; makes it far away from the international system which constituted by the West.After the disintegrating of Soviet Union, Russia has realized another approach for the power, like soft power, and than has given part in its concept of power for its near abroad. Taking back of its military power when comparing with the era of Soviet Union; giving first importance of its economic power nevertheless continuing to use it as a hard power tool mostly; understanding to give importance of cultural and political influence; being an attraction symbol with its strong economy and cultural influence according to its near abroad; after 2008 to be an important part of its foreign policy using the tools of ?Sovereign Democracy?, ?Russian World?, ?Euroasian Union?, ?Ortodoks Church?, Russia has began to give more importance for its ?Soft Power?. Even if Russia has given more importance after 2008 era; its soft power is not enough to catch a global influence.In this study; soft power concept of Russia has been examined with its economic, political and cultural structures and with these assessments has been trying to make it clear how much Russia is applying its tools of soft power in its foreing policy.Key Words: Soft Power, Economy, Russia, Power Projection, Security