The "Russian Idea" in International Relations: Civilization and National Distinctiveness - Paperbackby Andrei P. Tsygankov (Author) The "Russian Idea" in International Relations identifies different approaches within Russian Civilizational tradition Russia's nationally distinctive way of thinking by situating them within IR literature and connecting them to practices of the country's international relations. Civilizational ideas in IR theory express states' cultural identification and stress religious traditions, social customs, and economic and