Reasons for emergence and ideological explanation of the irredentist policy

The article deals with the policy of irredentism, which is viewed as a state policy, aimed at joining the part of the territory of other states under the pretence of protection of the kin-groups from a perspective of rational approach. The author investigates the reasons for emergence of irredentism, emphasizes the decisive role of the “Great Idea”, which justifies the irredentist policy of the state, and draws attention to the influence of nationalism on the formation of the policy of irredentism. It gives a detailed analysis of the content of irredentist project of the Russian Federation because of which the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea was carried out.