B0254 - RUSSIAN POLICIES TOWARDS EAST CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to handle with a comparative methodology the most relevant aspects of the region formation and development, construction of its identity, Russian and Western European influences on the Baltic countries, the prospects of regional Europeanisation/EUisation as well as the policies of the major inside and outside actors within the so-called New Europe. Moreover, students will raise their awareness of New Eastern Europe (namely the Baltic area), the Western Balkans and the Black Sea area.

Course contents

Learning outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students are expected to be able to discuss various aspects of the Russia’s international actorness, analyze cause and effect relationships between determinants of the post-Communist transitions within Post-Communist and Post-Soviet regions in comparative perspective and apply this knowledge to coherent analysis of the Russia’s policies towards ECE countries and trilateral interactions between Russia, regional countries and EU as well as implications of these interactions for European and global level of international relations.

Course contents:

In the beginning the course’s topic will be contextualized with the multidisciplinary and comparative analysis of the consequences of the post-Communist and post-Soviet transitions that took place in the East-Central Europe, Post-Soviet Space and Russia after 1989/1991 onwards. By overcoming or conserving legacies inherited from the previous periods these transitions have developed not only at several levels and within different dimensions (political, economic and new state-building in some cases), but often it progressed in different directions that created substantial differences in societal and political structures in individual countries and eventually these differences have determined, and sometimes reshaped the policies of these states including Russia, first of all.

After that the multiple aspects of Russia’s policies towards the East European and post-Soviet Eurasian countries will be scrutinized through the analysis of the history-rooted factors, dominating identities and ideas. Also, the processes of policy shaping, decision-making and implementation will be revealed.

This analysis of the course’s topic will be enriched with addressing the academic debates over the East European and Eurasian areas of the Post-Soviet Space, in particular it will outline and evaluate the main trends in developments (both, internal and international) within these regions including multiple aspects of bilateral and multilateral interactions between its countries as well as the analysis of so-called post-Soviet intergovernmental institutionalism and its organizations, like CIS, EEU, CSTO, GUAM-ODED and others.

Besides, for more coherent and complete analysis of the course’s topic it is important to discuss the main factors of the EU actorness in the New Eastern Europe and post-Soviet Eurasia that will include the analysis of developments regarding European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), EU Eastern Partnership (EaP), Association agenda and DCFTAs as well as continuities auh nd changes of the EU enlargement strategy and its applications for these regions.

All these abovementioned analytical elements will help to understand comprehensively the determinants and dynamics of the dramatic trilateral interactions between Russia, regional states and the EU (as one of the leading actors of the Western community) as well as the multiple implications of these interactions for regional and global levels of international relations.

 

Introduction. Course content, sources and literature overview, requirements.

Issue 1. Russia’s, East Central European and Post-Soviet Space countries actorness: evolutional and regional perspectives

• Historical context and legacies inherited from previous historical periods
• Regionalism theories perspective
• Russia: inclusiveness vs. “constitutive other”

Issue 2. Academic and political debates on the East European and post-Soviet regional Post-Communist transitions: comparative analysis

• Economic dimension
• Political dimension
• State-building dimension

Issue 3. Academic and political debates on Russia’s international actorness: determinants and historical evolution

• Historical factors: ruptures and continuities
• Identity and ideological factors
• Role of the West in the Russia’s foreign policy: “constitutive other”?
• Foreign policy in the making: institutions, policy shaping, decision-making and implementation

Issue 4. Developments of Russia’s foreign policy after 1991: European and Western dimensions

• Possible foreign policy strategies after 1991
• Periodization of the Russia’s foreign policy after 1991
• Changes and continuities in foreign policy and the reasons of it

Issue 5. Developments of Russia’s foreign policy after 1991: Interactions with the Central Eastern Europe and New Eastern Europe

• 1990s. Dealing with Post-Communist and Post-Soviet legacies
• Factor of the EU Eastern Enlargement
• Factors that constitute common and different patterns in relations between Russia and the regional countries

Issue 6. Academic and political debates on the Post-Soviet East European and Eurasian regions: Internal and international development dynamics

• Statehood, nation-building and identities construction within the regions
• Ethnic, linguistic and religious factors
• Ethnic minorities and de-facto states phenomenon
• Interstate relations dynamics and its factors

Issue 7. Intergovernmental institutions within the Post-Soviet Space

• Origins and possible classification of the Post-Soviet IGOs
• Functions and limitations of the post-Soviet IGOs
• Sub-regional state groupings and its roles

Issue 8. Eastern Europe and post-Soviet Eurasia in international politics: between East, West and South

• Policies of the Western (European and Euro-Atlantic) institutions (OSCE, NATO, CoE) and participation of the regional countries in these institutions
• OSCE field presences in the region
• Post-Soviet Space and South-Eastern Europe initiatives
• Other external actors: China and SCO, Turkey and Turkic Council, AfPak, Iran

Issue 9. EU policies towards New Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Space: Eastern Neighborhood and Enlargement agenda

• Principles of the EU international actorness and origins of the EU policies towards New Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Space in 1990s: Partnership and Cooperation agreements (PCAs), TACIS
• EU Eastern enlargement and regionalization of the EU policies towards New Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Space
• ENP, Eastern Partnership, Association agreements and DCFTAs, Association “Trio”
• New Eastern Europe, Post-Soviet Space and the EU enlargement agenda

Issue 10. Evolution and developments of interactions between Russia and EU within the Post-Soviet Space: main determinants

• Russia’s perceptions of the EU policies towards the New Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Space: main determinants and nuances
• EU perceptions of the Russia’s policies towards New Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Space: main determinants and nuances
• EU perception of the post-Soviet intergovernmental institutions
• Regional countries actorness and perceptions of Russia and EU: main determinants and nuances

Readings/Bibliography

Readings:

Mandatory:

Ademmer, E., L. Delcour, and K. Wolczuk. 2016. “Beyond Geopolitics: Exploring the Impact of the EU and Russia in the “Contested Neighbourhood.” Eurasian Geography and Economics 57 (1): 1–18.

Gehring, Thomas; Urbanski, Kevin; Oberthür, Sebastian. The European Union as an Inadvertent Great Power: EU Actorness and the Ukraine Crisis. Journal of Common Market Studies. Jul2017, Vol. 55 Issue 4, p727-743.

Gel`Man, V. 2008. “Out of the Frying Pan, into the Fire? Post-Soviet Regime Changes in Comparative Perspective.” Comparative Political Science Review 29 (2): 157–180.

Haukkala, Hiski. A Perfect Storm; Or What Went Wrong and What Went Right for the EU in Ukraine. Europe-Asia Studies. Jun2016, Vol. 68 Issue 4, p653-664.

Kuchins A., Zevelev I. Russian Foreign Policy: Continuity in Change. Washington Quarterly. Winter2010/2012, Vol. 35, Issue 1, P.147-161.

Laruelle, Marlene. Eurasia, Eurasianism, Eurasian Union: Terminological gaps and overlaps. Ponars Eurasia Policy Memo No. 366. July, 2015.

Lavenex, Sandra; Schimmelfenning, Frank. EU rules beyond EU borders: theorizing external governance in European politics. Journal of European Public Policy, 2009, No. 6.

Moshes, Arkady; Roberts, Sean P. The Eurasian Economic Union: a case of reproductive integration? Post-Soviet Affairs Volume 32, 2016 - Issue 6

Neumann, Iver B. Russia's Europe, 1991-2016: inferiority to superiority. International Affairs. Nov2016, Vol. 92 Issue 6, p1381-1399.

Riabov A. The Post-soviet states. Russian Politics & Law. Mar/Apr2014, Vol. 52 Issue 2, p30-43.

Trenin, D., Lo, B. The landscape of Russian policy decision-making. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 2005

Trenin D. Vladimir Putin’s Fourth Vector. Russia in Global Affairs, 30 of June, 2013.

Zubarevich, Natalia. Geopolitical Priorities in Russia's Regional Policies. Russian Politics & Law. 2016, Vol. 54 Issue 5/6, p44-62.

Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation (2016) / https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/fundamental_documents/1538901/

European Union. COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION European Neighbourhood Policy STRATEGY PAPER. Brussels, 12.5.2004 COM(2004) 373 final / https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/2004-communication-commission-european-neighbourhood-policy-strategy-paper_en

European Union. Communication from the European Commission to the European Parliament and the Council «Eastern partnership». [http://eeas.europa.eu/eastern/docs/com08_823_en.pdf] COM(2008) 823, 3 December, 2008. / https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A52008DC0823

European Union. JOINT STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT. Recovery, resilience and reform: post 2020 Eastern Partnership priorities. Brussels, 2.7.2021 SWD(2021) 186 final /https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/swd_2021_186_f1_joint_staff_working_paper_en_v2_p1_1356457_0.pdf

European Union. European Council meeting (23 and 24 June 2022) – Conclusions / https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/57442/2022-06-2324-euco-conclusions-en.pdf

Optional:

Averre, D. 2009. “Competing Rationalities: Russia, the EU and the ‘Shared Neighbourhood.” Europe-Asia Studies 61 (10): 1689–1713.

Bechev, D. 2015. “Understanding the Contest between the EU and Russia in Their Shared Neighbourhood.” Problems of Post-Communism 62 (6): 340–349.

Borzel, T., and V. van Hullen. 2014. “One Voice, One Message, but Conflicting Goals: Cohesiveness and Consistency of the ENP.” Journal of European Public Policy 21 (7): 1033–1049.

Cianciara, Agnieszka K. Stability, security, democracy: explaining shifts in the narrative of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Journal of European Integration. Volume 39, 2017 - Issue 1, Pages 49-62

Carothers, Tomas “The End of the Transition Paradigm,” Journal of Democracy, v. 13, no. 1 (January 2002), pp. 5-21

Cheng Chen and Rudra Sil, “Stretching Postcommunism: Diversity, Context, and Comparative Historical Analysis,” Post-Soviet Affairs 23, 4 (2007): 275-301.

Delcour L. Shaping the post-Soviet Space? EU Policies and Approaches to Region-Building. Ashgate. 2011

Deyermond, Ruth. The Uses of Sovereignty in Twenty-first Century Russian Foreign Policy. Europe-Asia Studies. Aug2016, Vol. 68 Issue 6, p957-984.

Izotov, Alexander (2019) Studying EU–Russia policies in the shared neighbourhood in Russia and in the West, Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 27:2, 208-223

Eaester, Gerald M., “Preference for Presidentialism: Postcommunist Regime Change in Russia and the NIS,” World Politics 49, 2 (1997): 184-211.

Gnedina, E. 2015. “‘Multi-Vector’ Foreign Policies in Europe: Balancing, Bandwagoning or Bargaining?” Europe-Asia Studies 67 (7): 1007–1029.

Hale, H. 2014. Patronal Politics: Eurasian Regime Dynamics in Comparative Perspective. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Hellman, Joel S. 1998. “Winners Take All: The Politics of Partial Reform in Postcommunist Transitions.” World Politics. 50: 203–234.

Kaczmarski, M. 2017. “Two Ways of Influence-Building: The Eurasian Economic Union and the One Belt, One Road Initiative.” Europe-Asia Studies 69 (7): 1027–1046.

Kaczmarski, M. 2017b “Non-Western Visions of Regionalism: China’s New Silk Road and Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union.” International Affaires 93 (6): 1357–1376.

Kelley, J. 2006. “New Wine in the Old Wineskins: Promoting Political Reforms through the New ENP.” Journal of Common Market Studies 44 (1): 29–55.

Kembayev, Zhenis. Regional Integration in Eurasia: The Legal and Political Framework. Review of Central & East European Law. 2016, Vol. 41 Issue 2, p157-194.

Korosteleva, Elena A. Eastern partnership and the Eurasian Union: bringing ‘the political’ back in the eastern region. European Politics & Society. Jul2016, Vol. 17, p67-81.

Kropatcheva, Elena. Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation: Multilateral Policy or Unilateral Ambitions? Europe-Asia Studies. Nov2016, Vol. 68 Issue 9, p1526-1552.

Lane, David. Post-socialist regions in the world system. European Politics & Society. Jul2016, Vol. 17, p46-66.

Langbein, Julia. European Union governnance towards the Eastern Neighborhood: Transcending or Redrawing Europe`s East-West Divide? Journal of Common Market Studies, Jan 2014, Vol. 52, Issue 1., P. 157-174.

Mihaliyi, P., and I. Szelenyi. 2017. “The Role of Rents in the Transition from Socialist Redistributive Economies to Market Capitalism.” Comparative Sociology 16 (1): 13–38.

Natorski, Michal; Pomorska, Karolina. Trust and Decision-making in Times of Crisis: The EU's Response to the Events in Ukraine. Journal of Common Market Studies. Jan2017, Vol. 55 Issue 1, p54-70.

Pop-Eleches, Grigore and Robertson, Graeme “After the Revolution: Long-Term Effects of Electoral Revolutions,” Problems of Post-Communism 61, 4 (2014): 3-22.

Way, L. 2008. “The Real Causes of the Color Revolutions.” Journal of Democracy 19 (3): 55–69.

Way, L., and S. Levitsky. 2007. “Linkage, Leverage, and Post-Communist Divide.” East European Politics and Societies 21 (1): 48–66.

Teaching methods

The course will be delivered in the form of lectures as well as discussions on the course’s issues, primary sources and academic literature. Therefore, every lecture will include the seminar elements.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods

Assignment research paper

Requirements and evaluation criteria outline:

• Originality: Original paper without any plagiarizing of another’s work
• Research questions are formulated
• Critical scholarly approach to the primary sources
• Extensive use of the secondary sources, critical evaluation of the academic literature
• Research is based on the theories (e.g. in international relations or political science ect.)
• Logics of the argument-building, evidence-based arguments
• Text is well-structured
• Demonstration of different theoretical approaches, explanations, points of view
• Conclusions are based on the rigorous analysis developed in the paper
• Bibliography list after the text
• References throughout the text, references are designed in accordance with one chosen referencing style that is widely used in the academia (e.g., Oxford, Harvard, Chicago ect.)

Teaching tools

Computer, power point software and projector.

The course can be delivered in a face to face or simultaneous on-line modality

Office hours

See the website of Aleksandr Izotov