B2953 - Russia, the EU and the Common Neighbourhood

Learning outcomes

Russia’s consistent attempt to secure a relevant role in the international system has caused enduring problems in terms of its relations with Europe. This module will review Russia-Europe, and in particular Russia-EU, relations and consider the political, economic, and security issues involved.

Course contents

This module aims to provide students with the essential conceptual tools and empirical knowledge required to understand Russia's European policy -- with a focus on the European Union (EU) and the so-called 'Common Neighbourhood.' In particular, students will learn about the historical, political, security, and economic factors that have shaped Russia's relationship with EUrope, and the instruments of power deployed by Moscow to influence its post-Soviet neighbours.

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

• analyse the historical evolution and contemporary interplay of political, security, and economic factors shaping Russia's relationship with Europe;
• evaluate the diverse instruments of power and influence that Moscow employs to influence its neighbours and engage with the EU;
• critically assess specific case studies within the Common Neighbourhood;
• formulate and present well-researched insights on the future trajectory of Russia-Europe relations;
• apply the acquired notions, also in conjunction with other disciplines, to obtain a more complete/deeper understanding of contemporary international politics.

 

* Basic instructions

This module develops coherently with its twin on Russia's Foreign Policy (Prof Averre). Together, they intend to provide students with a specialist knowledge on the drivers, nature, and development of Russian foreign policy-making.

Classes will be held in presence. The lecturer encourages the students’ active participation and discussion. Therefore, the constant study of proposed topics, supported by the readings assigned, will be required.

The first part of the module will review and analyse key themes of Russia's EUrope policy, laying the background for a closer inspection of Russia's specific course of action in selected case studies pertaining the so-called Common Neighbourhood.

During the second part of the module, students will be asked to present their own work on one of such case studies. The case studies will be assigned at the end of the first week of class to ensure ample time for everyone to prepare. The presentations, lasting about 20-30 minutes, should critically analyse Russia's relationship with a given country of the Common Neighbourhood. Presentations should be based both on what was learnt during the course and on original research conducted by the students. Each presentation should include a student-led Q&A session; it will be followed by an in-depth discussion led by the lecturer.

 

* Structure

Session 1: Introduction

This session will help students familiarise themselves with the module’s aim, structure, and requirements. The class will also review key structural and contextual factors that have shaped Russia's relation with EUrope and the Common Neighbourhood throughout history.

Session 2: Russia-NATO Relations

This session will unpack Russia's relations with a key Euro-Atlantic institution: NATO. The class will explore the historical evolution and contemporary challenges of bilateral relations, identifying critical turning points and shaping factors after the Cold War.

Session 3: The Soviet Union and the European Community

This session will examine the formative period of interaction between the Soviet Union and the European integration project, providing essential context for understanding current Russia-EU dynamics.

Session 4: Russia, Europe, and the European Union

This session will analyse key political, social, and economic dimensions of the EU-Russia relationship since the end of the Cold War. The class will pay particular attention to the in/compatibility between the two actors’ interests, threat assessments, political cultures, and worldviews.

Session 5: Russia, the EU, and the Balkans

Case study. This session will unpack the policies of Russia and the EU in the Balkans, analysing the tools of political, economic, and social influence they deploy in support of strategic objectives.

Session 6: Russia and Moldova

Case study (student-led seminar). Following the presentation, the teacher will delve into the topic of Russian trans-border influence networks.

Session 7: Russia and Ukraine

Case study (student-led seminar). Following the presentation, the teacher will delve into the topic of Russian ways of war and strategic confrontation.

Session 8: Russia and Belarus

Case study (student-led seminar). Following the presentation, the teacher will delve into the topics of regionalism and strategic deterrence.

Session 9: Russia and Georgia

Case study (student-led seminar). The teacher will follow up on the topic of secessionism and patron-client relations in the post-Soviet space.

Session 10: Conclusion

This final session will summarise key aspects and recurring themes of the module, consolidating student understanding. The class will engage in a debate on the potential evolution of Russia-EUrope relations, considering various internal and external pressures, and discuss other relevant global trends impacting this critical relationship.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory readings:

Andreev, A.L. (2008). "The Image of Russia and the Image of the West in Russian Consciousness." Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 483-489.

Averre, D. (2009). “Competing Rationalities: Russia, the EU and the ‘Shared Neighbourhood’.” Europe-Asia Studies, vol. 61, no. 10, pp. 1689-1713.

Averre, D. (2016). “The Ukrainian Conflict: Russia’s Challenge to European Security Governance.” Europe-Asia Studies, vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 699-725.

Bordachev, T.V. (2019). "Russia and Europe: Between Integration and Dipomacy." Russia in Global Affairs, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 38-63.

Casier, T. (2018). "The different faces of power in European Union-Russia relations." Cooperation and Conflict, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 101-117.

Chaban, N., Egström, O., Gulyaeva, O. (2017). “Russian images of the European Union: Before and after Maidan.” Foreign Policy Analysis, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 480-499.

Fasola, N. & Lucarelli, S. (2025). "Europe between Russia’s self and others: continuity and transformation in Russia’s perceptions of the European Union." Journal of Contemporary European Studies [online first].

Foxall, A. (2017). “From Evropa to Gayropa: A critical geopolitics of the European Union as seen from Russia.” Geopolitics, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 174-193.

Gromyko, A.A. (2016). "Russia, the United States, and Smaller Europe (the EU): Competition for Leadership in the Polycentric World." Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences, vol. 86, no. 1, pp. 12-18.

Haukkala, H. (2008). "Russian Reactions to the European Neighbourhood Policy." Problems of Post-Communism, vol. 55, no. 5, pp. 40-48. 

Hill, W.H. (2019). "Russia's Search for a Place in Europe." Survival, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 93-102. 

Karaganov, S. (2024). "Russia-'s European Journey is Over." Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) [online].

Krickovic, A. (2014). "Imperial nostalgia or prudent geopolitics? Russia's efforts to reintegrate the post-Soviet space in geopolitical perspective." Post-Soviet Affairs, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 503-528.

Neumann, I.B. (2016). “Russia’s Europe, 1991-2016: inferiority to superiority.” International Affairs, vol. 92, no. 6, pp. 1381-1399.

Rieker, P. & Gjerde, K.L. (2016). “The EU, Russia and the Potential for Dialogue - Different Readings of the Crisis in Ukraine.” European Security, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 304-325. 

Trenin, D. (2023). "Two Worlds of Russia’s Foreign Policy." Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) [online].

 

Recommended readings:

Fasola, N. (2024). Reinterpreting Russia's Strategic Culture: The Russian Way of War. Abingdon: Routledge.

Hill, W.H. (2018). No Place for Russia: European Security Institutions Since 1989. New York: Columbia University Press.

Neumann, I.B. (1996). Russia and the Idea of Europe. A Study in Identity and International Relations. London & New York: Routledge.

White, S. & Feklyunina, V. (2014). Identities and Foreign Policies in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. E-book version. Macmillan.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures and interactive seminars.

Assessment methods

Class attendance is mandatory. Students who do not attend at least 70% of the classes will not be allowed to take the final exam.

The overall grade for this module will result from:

1. active in-class participation (10%) = evaluated based on informed contributions to discussions, critical engagement, and construtive feedback;
2. group presentation on case study (40%) = assessed on content, analyitical depth, clarity, and presentation skills;
3. final oral exam (50%) = one-to-one discussion, aimed at testing the student’s ability to apply their knowledge, think critically and in an original way, make the necessary logical connections between themes, and communicate their thoughts effectively.

As per usual, grades will be expressed on a scale from 0 to 30 (‘trentesimi’):

• 0-18 = fail
• 18 = pass threshold
• 18 – 20 = sufficient
• 21 – 23 = fair
• 24 – 26 = good
• 27 – 29 = very good
• 30 / 30 cum laude = excellent

Teaching tools

Power point, videos, documents, in-class interaction, Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Nicolò Fasola