Russia's perception of the international order has undergone significant changes, from attempting to integrate into the Western order to criticizing and presenting its own ideas. After the Ukrainian crisis, Russia's criticism of the US Western liberal international order intensified, while putting forward principled propositions for the future international order. The reasons for this cognitive change are multifaceted and have profound implications for its global strategy and future.

1、 Problem posing

In recent years, Russia has taken a critical attitude towards the international order dominated by the United States and the West, believing that it is centered on the West, adheres to the zero sum game principle, and is inconsistent with the diversity of civilizations and cultural richness. President Putin emphasized that the Ukrainian crisis is a matter of the principles of a new international order, while Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov pointed out that the "rules based international order" of the United States and the West is essentially an order that follows orders from Washington. Russia once attempted to integrate into the US Western international order, but now criticizes it as a unipolar hegemonic order and proposes the establishment of a multipolar world order.

2、 Analysis framework

Explored the formation and development of Russia's perception of the international order after the end of the Cold War. The cognitive process involves self-awareness, cognition of others, and cognition of objective reality, which are formed in Russia's interactions with other countries. Russia's view of international order is influenced by its historical culture, great power dreams, Western attitudes, and changes in world politics. In terms of self-awareness, Russia's confusion and wavering cultural identity have affected its view of international order. In terms of understanding of the United States and the West, their policies and Russia's perception of their intentions have a significant impact on Russia's view of international order. In terms of understanding the objective reality of world politics, the changes in international power balance and value norms provide Russia with an external environment to promote its international order concept.

3、 Russia's cognitive process towards the international order

After the end of the Cold War, Russia's understanding of the international order underwent four stages of evolution. In the mid to early 1990s, Russia fully accepted and made efforts to integrate into the Western liberal international order, undergoing political, economic, and geopolitical transformations. However, this process encountered political turmoil, economic recession, and social problems. In the mid to late 1990s to 2007, Russia began to question the value norms and geopolitical arrangements of the Western order. After Putin came to power, he proposed an "orderly market economy" and "controllable democracy", emphasizing national sovereignty and security, while seeking energy cooperation with Europe to divide the West. From 2008 to 2021, Russia's illusions about the Western liberal international order were shattered, and it began to counterattack its geopolitical arrangements, believing that the unipolar world order dominated by American hegemony had come to an end and that liberal ideas were outdated. After the Ukrainian crisis in 2022, Russia proposed the concept of a multipolar world order, emphasizing an order based on multiple power centers, respecting cultural diversity, and emphasizing multilateral cooperation. Putin has emphasized the importance of multilateralism on multiple occasions, believing it to be the mainstream of future international development. At the same time, Russian scholars have begun to reflect on the concept of a "multipolar world" and believe that the future of the world order should be sought from multilateralism.

4、 The evolutionary logic of Russia's perception of international order

Since the end of the Cold War, Russia's understanding of the international order has undergone significant evolution. At first, Russia aspired to become a part of the West, but over time, its self-awareness gradually shifted towards emphasizing an independent civilization and the dream of becoming a great power. In his speeches in 2005 and 2012, President Putin emphasized Russia's European identity and criticism of the Western model, advocating for independent development based on its own history and national conditions. In 2013, Putin proposed the concept of a "unified cultural code", emphasizing the multi-ethnic and global nature of Russian civilization. After the Crimean crisis in 2014, Russia placed greater emphasis on historical and cultural traditions, strengthening national construction and cultural sovereignty. Russia's foreign policy vision has also shifted from viewing itself as a part of European civilization to calling itself an independent civilization that encompasses the entire post Soviet space.

5、 The Future of Russia's Multi polar World Order Concept

Explored Russia's future vision of a multipolar world order and its role in the international order. Putin emphasized the importance of establishing a fair and balanced multipolar world order at the BRICS summit, which is based on diverse power centers and diverse civilizations, reflecting the rights and demands of developing countries. There is a fundamental difference between Russia's concept of a multipolar world order and the US Western liberal international order, which is led by the US and maintains its global hegemonic position. Faced with the wavering values of Western liberalism, Russia's vision is attractive to the global South. Russia strengthens cooperation with Asian, African, and Latin American countries to promote a multipolar world order.