Structural Factors of Russia-China Relations in International Organizations (Case of SCO)

Russia and China are essential actors in the Great Power politics, and comprehension of the relations between them may improve the understanding of the shift in the international balance of power. This paper contributes to the ongoing research on Russia-China relations by examining the specifics of their interaction inside the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It aims to find the reasons behind the specific raison d’etat that exists between the two countries, particularly emphasizing the structural factors such as the military presence, economic performance, and power politics. The research aims to fill in the gap in the study of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and assess its efficiency. Russia and China differ in their understanding of the SCO, and these differences will be examined thoroughly in the article. Both countries know their weaknesses and strengths, and surprisingly, both can provide efficient response to each other’s challenges. However, in this case, cooperation is not that simple.