Shutting Down Russia\u27s Superiority Complex. An Analysis of the International Community\u27s Response to Russia\u27s 2014 Annexation of Crimea.

The United States, the European Union and allies responded to the Russian Federation’s 2014 Annexation of Crimea with economic sanctions. After providing a basic understanding of Russia’s political economy and rent redistribution economic system, this paper supplies an overview of the Western sanctions within Russia’s three economic sectors — the energy industry, the defense industry, and the financial system. From there, I make an analysis of the Russian response to the sanctions is within each sector. Furthermore, I argue that the United States supports ulterior motives for implementing the economic sanctions. Concluding with the effects of the sanctions to Russia\u27s domestic, economic, and political climate and how that affects Russia\u27s role as an actor in the international community