Military action in South Ossetia, growing tensions with the United States and NATO, and Russia's relationship with the European Union demonstrate how the issue of Russian nationalism is increasingly at the heart of the international political agenda. This book considers a wide range of aspects of Russian nationalism, focusing on the Putin period. It discusses development of the phenomenon since the Soviet era, examines how it grows out of - or is related to - ideology, culture, racism, religion, and intellectual thinking, and demonstrates how it affects many aspects of Russian society, politics, and foreign policy. This book examines the different sociopolitical phenomena that are variously defined as "nationalism," "patriotism" and "xenophobia". As Russia reasserts itself in the world, with Russian nationalism as one of the key driving forces in this process, an understanding of it is essential for understanding the dynamics of contemporary international relations