Perceptions and Misperceptions: The Russian Perspective of NATO Expansion

Applying Robert Jervis's theory set forth in his book, Perception and Misperception in International Politics, to NATO and Russian intervention in the Baltics, Georgia, and Ukraine, to gain a more complete understanding of how Russia and NATO members see one another and themselves. According to Jervis, actors often misperceive the actions of other actors and, as a result, an actor's intentions are in turn misinterpreted; this leads to unintended and undesirable consequences. Using Jervis's realist theory, it becomes clear that both Russia and NATO have inaccurate images of themselves and of each other. However, because of the imbalance of power in the Russia-NATO relationship, Russia's concerns about NATO expansion are more reality-based than NATO's concerns about Russian power. The ability of political actors and decision-makers in Western governments to negotiate with foreign powers and resolve conflicts would be enhanced by considering military and economic power dynamics between countries.