Political scientist Ageeva: Russia's foreign policy suffers due to obsession with the past 
Russia suffers from its negative agenda in foreign policy, because it does not attract a mass audience. Most of the positive is focused on the past – this also explains many of the failures. This opinion was expressed by the Deputy Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg Vera Ageeva in a conversation with Lenta.ru.
As an example, the political scientist cited the work of Russian media abroad – RT and Sputnik, which were repeatedly subjected to pressure from the authorities of Western countries. Ageeva believes that they are being “pressed” because of an overly negative agenda.
“[These media] actively criticize migration policy in Europe, thanks to which they have occupied a niche on the alternative agenda, which is ignored by mainstream media abroad. But we do not offer solutions to problems. This is the 25th time we are talking about Dostoevsky or Tchaikovsky, but we are not showing modern Russia, “she said.
The expert believes that now Moscow should focus on positive ideology. This will strengthen “soft power” – a policy aimed at improving the country's image by non-violent methods.
So she commented on the message about the creation of a new department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will deal with cultural and humanitarian cooperation with different countries as a diplomatic line and at the level of non-governmental organizations.