The article analyses two opposing approaches to the study of modern Russian diplomacy. In foreign literature diplomacy is seen as an instrument of foreign policy, traditionally belonging to the international relations theory. As a result, most of the works are reduced to the study of different schools (neorealism, neoliberalism, constructivism, etc.) in order to construct models applicable to describing diplomatic activity (for example, the ‘two-level game model’). At the same time, such models do not take into account the narrow professional specifics of diplomatic institutions and, consequently, can be used on limited historical material. At the same time, Soviet and Russian researchers tend to favour empirical works of practicing diplomats who considered applied aspects of foreign policy through the lens of their professional experience. This paradigm is suitable for analysing specific country situations, but cannot be the basis for developing universal theoretical models that can be applied in foreign policy planning. In this regard, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive vision of Russian diplomacy by combining the international experience of fundamental research with the domestic school of applied analysis.