Smolnikov Strategy

Dr. Sergey Smolnikov

I am an international scholar of strategic studies, foreign policy, and great‑power politics whose work combines theoretical innovation with policy relevance. I held full professorships in Europe and Asia, and currently teach International Relations and Strategic Studies in Canada. My research focuses on the structural forces shaping global order, the behaviour of great powers in periods of transition, and the strategic role of leadership in navigating uncertainty.

Across three major single-authored books, I have developed a coherent analytical framework for understanding credibility, power, and strategic adaptation. My early work conceptualized the European Union as an international actor sui generis, offering one of the first systematic accounts of its emerging agency. My second book advanced a theory of power credibility that explains how great powers behave during phases of relative decline, integrating cyclical development with elite decision‑making and stage‑dependent strategic behaviour.

My most recent book provides an interdisciplinary analysis of US foreign policy under Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden. It introduces a novel classification of American foreign policy streams, conceptualizes the US presidency as a structurally pivotal force in global politics, and maps the strategic, military, economic, technological, and psychological dimensions of American statecraft in the twenty‑first century. Together, my books form a coherent research program that explains how great powers manage decline, how the United States adapts to systemic change, and how leadership shapes strategic outcomes.

My work is distinguished by its interdisciplinarity, strategic foresight, and architectonic approach to theory‑building. I draw on international relations, strategic studies, political economy, political psychology, leadership analysis, and historical cycles to illuminate the deeper logic of global transformation. My goal is to provide conceptual clarity and strategic insight at a time when the international system is undergoing profound change.

This platform presents my research, publications, and strategic perspectives. It is designed to connect my work with institutions, scholars, and policymakers seeking rigorous analysis, original theory, and senior expertise in international security and global strategy.