The analysis of Russian military intervention in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria within the framework of neo-realism

In this dissertation, the reasons of the military intervention of Russia, which is the successor of post-Cold War Soviet Union, in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria were examined. In the thesis, the impact of the changes in the balance of power in international system, which took place after the Cold War, on the military intervention of Russia was investigated within the framework of neo-realism theory. The hypothesis that the change and transformation in power distribution within the international system between the years of 1991 and 2015 is the most important factor affecting the decision of Russia to conduct military interventions has been analysed. The examples of this study are: the rise and decline of Great Powers or candidates thereof, including post-Cold War Russia, the parties of the security dilemma and the security crises in Europe, and those countries which were affected by these processes including Russia and the countries it intervened in, namely, Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria. Topics, such as, the main dynamics affecting Russian military interventions, the changes in economic and military capabilities that are the power elements of Great Powers and candidates thereof, the influence of power, and changes in the balance of power on war, the expansion of NATO, the transformation of European Armament Policies and the increasement in the procurement of armaments, the effects of Missile Defence Systems on the European security, the Russian efforts in the direction of establishing multi-polar world order, and to this end, rapid enhancement of their military capabilities, the foreign policy of neighbouring countries that perceives Russia as a threats to move away from Russia, the reflections of the process encountered on Syria, and on the foreign policy of Russia was touched upon.