The present dissertation has as its main goal understanding the motivation of the Russian Federation in the current Syrian crisis. The central argument is that Russia in the post-Cold War, especially after Vladimir Putin became President of the Federation, change its identity. In this way, in the relation between Russia and the West the country is rediscovering the West as the other , and has retained some Soviet-inspired foreign policy guidelines. In this context, the continuing blockade of Western actions in the current crisis in Syria has roots that are not only of a material strategic nature. This thesis proposes that the Syrian crisis and its historical interconnection with the former USSR and contemporary Russia do not constitute the primary object of Russian foreign policy at this time. The main purpose of the research is to show the obscured character the Russian action in Syria, during the current crisis. The next task is to demonstrate that Russian action in this scenario is more related to their relationship with the West, to its search to become a great power, and its attempt to reoccupy the place of the USSR, to some extent, than to Syria itself. To bring theoretical meaning to the research, will be operationalized concepts of identity, national interests and discursive analysis.