56083 - RUSSIA AND REGIONAL POLICIES IN EAST-CENTRAL EUROPE

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

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.

Contenuti

Course Title:  Russia and Regional Policies in East-Central Europe

 

 

Learning outcomes:

 

Students are expected to accumulate a comprehensive knowledge on the region of New Eastern Europe that is located beyond the new eastern borders of the EU and NATO including in-depth analysis on the of main legacies and transitions of its countries since 1989/1991 as well as the Russian and EU policies over this region based on the comparative and interdisciplinary approach.    

 

 

 

Course description:

 

The course is devoted to the political analysis of the region which is located beyond new eastern borders of the EU and NATO, there is so-called region of New Eastern Europe (NEE) which is being constructed and developed in the area of the western part of the post-Soviet space. In the beginning the course will focus on the current political debates on the region and its countries, where the key attention will be paid to the process of the post-communist and post-soviet transition of the regional countries since 1989/1991, its main social actors, the commonalities and differences in the paths of the post-communist transformation in different countries and its relations with the processes and concepts of the modernization and globalization. Also the different theoretical region-building approaches will be applied to the area of the NEE.

 

Considering the paths of the post-communist transition the course will concentrate on the process of the collapse of the Soviet Union and its different implications for the different regional countries and its domestic politics. Then the paths of the post-soviet transformations will be analyzed from the perspectives of the political and economic transition, nation and state building processes where the debates on the collective memories, identities and soviet legacies are very important. Also the phenomenon of the so-called “color revolutions” and its results will be considered in terms of the political transition and the debates on the nation/identity building.           

 

After that the region of New Eastern Europe will be analyzed in a broader international context, where the policies and strategies of the main global actors towards the region will be outlined (e.g. Russia, EU, U.S., NATO) as well as the policies of the NEE countries in the pan-European intergovernmental organizations (e.g. OSCE, the Council of Europe) and the intraregional cooperation will be considered. Regarding these issues the main attention will be paid to analysis of the Russian and EU policies over the region. In particular the Russian domestic debates over the region as well as Russian policies towards it will be analyzed including bilateral relations and the functioning of the post-soviet intergovernmental organizations with Russian participation like CIS, CSTO, EurAsEc, the Union state of Russia and Belarus, the concept of the Eurasian Union. Considering the EU policies towards the region the main attention will be paid to the functioning of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), EU Eastern Partnership (EaP) as well as to the prospects of the Europeanization/EUisation of the NEE countries.

In concluding part of the course there will be two comparative interregional and sub-regional case studies:

-          the comparative analysis of the New Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans as two post-communist regions at the EU borders and the EU peripheries.

-          the comparative analysis of two sub-regions of NEE, namely, the Baltic and Black Sea regions, where the main idea is to compare in what different ways both the EU and Russia are involved in these regions and regional cooperation.

 

 

 

 

Structure of Lectures:

 

 

Issue 1:  The Political Debates on the Region of New Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Space

(Days 1-4)

 

-          The Problem of Region Definition: The NEE Region in Contemporary Political Discourses

-          The Main Regional Actors

-          Post-Communist/Soviet Legacies and Post-Communist/Soviet Transition: Main Directions and Different Paths of the Transformation Process

-          Collective Memories, Nation and State Building Process in the Countries of the Region

-          The Region of Diversities: Will the Different Countries and Societies of the Region Search for a Kind of Shared Regional Identity?

 

 

 

Issue 2:  New Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Space in International Politics and International Institutions

(Days 4-5)

 

-          New Eastern Europe and Problems of International Security

-          U.S. Policies towards New Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Space: Interests and Strategies

-          NEE and NATO: Cooperation and Involvement

-          The countries of New Eastern Europe Membership in OSCE and the Council of Europe: Influence and Socialization

 

 

 

Issue 3: The EU and New Eastern Europe: European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and Eastern Partnership (EaP)

(Days 6-7)

 

-          EU Rationale to Cooperate with the Region: EU Political Objectives and its Implications for the NEE

-          Development of the EU Policy Towards the NEE: PCA Approach, European Neighborhood Policy, EU Eastern Partnership

-          Developments and Prospects of the EU Eastern Partnership: Political, Security and Socio-Economic Implications for the Region

-          The Debates on Europeanization/EUisation of the NEE: the Balance between the EU and Domestic factors

 

 

 

Issue 4: Russia and the Region of New Eastern Europe

(Days 7-8)

 

-     Russian Debates on its Identity and Foreign Policy: Implications for the Russian Policies towards the Post-Soviet Space and New Eastern Europe

-          The Concept of ‘Near Abroad' in Russian Political Discourses and the Russian Foreign Policy

-          The Institutions of the Regional Cooperation within the Post-Soviet Area under Informal Russian Leadership (The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEc), the Custom Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), The Union State of Russia and Belarus; the prospects of the Single Economic Space and the concept of the Eurasian Union)

-          The Specifics of the Bilateral Relations between Russia and the Countries of the Post-Soviet Space

-          Russian and the EU Policies over the Region of New Eastern Europe: Between Cooperation, Competition and Conflicts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue 5: Interregional and Sub-Regional Comparative Case Studies

(Day 9)

 

New Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans as the Regions at the EU Borders and EU Peripheries: Comparative Analysis

 

-          The Post-Communist Legacies and Transition of the Regions: What is in Common and What is Different?

-          The Process of the Des-integration of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia: Comparative Analysis

-          General Trends in the Relations between the Post-Soviet and between the Post-Yugoslav Countries after 1991: Comparative Analysis

-          The Evolution of the EU Policies Towards the NEE and the Western Balkans: Comparative Analysis

-          The Prospects of the Europeanisation/EUisation (and EU Accession?) for the Countries of the NEE and Western Balkans: Comparative Analysis

 

 

The Baltic and Black Sea Regions as Sub-regions of New Eastern Europe: Comparative Analysis 

 

-    Post-Communist/Post-Soviet Legacies and Transition: Implications for the Development of the Baltic and Black Sea Regions

-          The Institutions of the Regional Political and Economic Cooperation in the Baltic and Black Sea Regions and  the Main Problems of the Regions Construction and Development: Comparative Analysis

-          International Political Debates on the Baltic and Black Sea Regions: Comparative Analysis

-          The EU and Russian Involvement in the Baltic and Black Sea Regions: Different Models of the EU and Russian Policies?

 

 

Day 10. Final seminar. Presentations of the draft research papers

Testi/Bibliografia

Books and articles:

 

Aalto P.,  Blakkisrud H., Smith H. (eds)  The New Northern Dimension of the European Neighbourhood. CEPS 2008 / http://www.ceps.eu/book/new-northern-dimension-european-neighbourhood

 

Blockmans S., Kostanyan H., Vorobiov E.  Towards Eurasian Economic Ubion: the Challenge of Integration and Unity. CEPS Special Report, 14 December, 2012 /  http://www.ceps.be/book/towards-eurasian-economic-union-challenge-integration-and-unity

 

Coppieters B.,  Huysseune M.,  Kovziridze T.,  Noutcheva G.,  Tocci N.,  Emerson M.,  Vahl M. Europeanization and Conflict Resolution: Case Studies from the European Periphery. 2004.

 

Donaldson, R., Nogee, J. The Foreign Policy of Russia: Changing Systems, Enduring Interests. Armonk: M.E.Sharpe, Inc. 2005.

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

Emerson M.  (ed.) The Elephant and the Bear Try Again. Brussels, CEPS, November 2006. / http://www.ceps.eu/book/elephant-and-bear-try-again-options-new-agreement-between-eu-and-russia 

 

Emerson M. The EU New Black Sea Policy  What Kind of Regionalism is this? CEPS. 30 OF June, 2008 / http://www.ceps.eu/book/eus-new-black-sea-policy-what-kind-regionalism

 

Emerson, M.  European Neighbourhood Policy – Strategy or Placebo? CEPS Working documents. 1 of December, 2004 / http://www.ceps.eu/book/european-neighbourhood-policystrategy-or-placebo 

 

Emerson, M. The Elephant and the Bear: The European Union, Russia and Their Near Abroad. CEPS. 2001. / http://www.ceps.eu/book/elephant-and-bear-european-union-russia-and-their-near-abroads  

 

Green S. (ed.) Engaging history: The problems and politics of memory in Russia and the post-Soviet space.  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - Carnegie Moscow Center. Working Papers # 2. 2010 / http://carnegieendowment.org/files/WP_2_2010_engaging.pdf

 

Gross. E., Emerson M. (eds.) Evaluating the EU's Crisis Missions in the Balkans. CEPS 2007. /  http://www.ceps.eu/book/evaluating-eus-crisis-missions-balkans  

 

Hamilton D., Mangott G. (eds.) The New Eastern Europe: Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova. Center for Trans-Atlantic Relations. Washington D.C., Austrian Institute of International Affaires. 2007 / http://transatlantic.sais-jhu.edu/bin/o/y/new_eastern_europe_text.pdf 

 

Judith, K.  New Wine in Old Wineskins: Promoting Political Reforms through the New European Neighbourhood Policy // JCMS 2006 Volume 44. Number 1. pp. 29–55. / http://www.luiss.it/mes/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/kelley_JCMS_2006.pdf 

 

The European Neighbourhood After August 2008.  Republic of Letters Publishing. 2011.-  Chapter 8: Izotov A., khudoley, K.  Russia and the European Union: Partnership and Conflict Undefined.  PP. 199-232.

 

Kratochvil, P. (ed.): "The European Union and Its Neighbourhood: Policies, Problems and Priorities", Institute of International Relations (IIR), Prague, 2006.

 

Krawatzek F., Kefferpütz R. The same old modernisation game?   Russian interpretations of modernisation   CEPS Working Document No. 337/September 2010

 

Mahncke, D., Gstohl, S. (eds.) Europe`s Near Abroad.  Brussels, P.I.E. Peter Lang, 2008, College of Europe Studies, vol. 4.

 

Malfliet K., Verpoest L., Vinokurov E. (eds.)  The CIS, the EU and Russia. Challenges of Integration. - New York : Palgrave Macmillan. 2007.

 

Neumann. I. Uses of the Other: “The East” in European Identity Formation. University of Minnesota Press. 1999. Chapter 5. Making Regions: Central Europe. PP. 143-161. 

 

Sakwa, R. The Сrisis of Russian Democracy: The Dual State, Factionalism, and the Medvedev Succession. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2011.

 

The Eighth EU-Russia Review ‘Russian Foreign Policy`. EU-Russia Center. October 2008. / http://www.eu-russiacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/review_viii_final_13_10.pdf

 

The Fifteenth EU-Russia Review ‘The EU-Russia Modernisation Partnership'.  EU-Russia Center. October 2010. / http://www.eu-russiacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/EURC_review_XV_ENG.pdf

 

The Thirteenth EU-Russia Review ‘Europe and Russia – Trusting Friends or Fearful Neighbours?  EU – Russia Center. December 2009. / http://www.eu-russiacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/Review_XIII_english.pdf

 

Trenin, D. The End of Eurasia. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 2002.

 

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

 

Trenin, D. The End of the EU-Russia Relations as We Know It.  Carnegie Endownment for Peace. 25.12.2012.

 

Ukraine, the EU and Russia. History, culture and international relations. Edited by Stephen Velychenko. Palgrave, 2007.

 

Wilson A. The Ukrainians. Unexpected nation. Third edition. London, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009.

 

 

 

Primary Sources, Documents:

 

Council of the Baltic Sea States Vilnus Declaration for the Baltic Sea Region by 2020. 2 of June 2010. /  http://www.cbss.org/CBSS-The-Council/council-presidency

 

Charter of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. 1998. / http://www.bsec-organization.org/documents/LegalDocuments/statutory/charter/Download/CHARTER%20web%20080630.pdf

 

Communication from the Commission to the Council and European Parliament “Wider Europe – Neighborhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours”. Brussels. 11 March 2003. COM (2003) 104 final // http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/pdf/com03_104_en.pdf

 

Communication from the Commission “European Neighborhood Policy Strategy Paper”.  Brussels, 12.5.2004. COM(2004) 373 final. // http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/pdf/strategy/strategy_paper_en.pdf

 

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament “Black Sea Synergy – A New Regional Cooperation Initiative”.  Brussels, 11 of April, 2007. COM(2007) 160 final. // http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/pdf/com07_160_en.pdf

 

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council “Eastern Partnership”. Brussels, 3 of December, 2008. COM (2008) 823 final. // http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0823:FIN:EN:PDF

 

Joint Communication from the European Parliament, the Council, European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions “Delivering on a New European Neighbourhood Policy”  15.05.2012. / http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/docs/2012_enp_pack/delivering_new_enp_en.pdf

 

Joint Communication from the European Parliament, the Council, European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions “Eastern Partnership: A Roadmap to the Autumn 2013 Summit” 15.05.2012 / http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/docs/2012_enp_pack/e_pship_roadmap_en.pdf

 

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions concerning  the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Brussels. 10.06.2009. COM(2009) 248 final / http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/communic/baltic/com_baltic_en.pdf

 

Guidelines for the Development of a Political Declaration and Policy Framework Document for the Northern Dimension Policy from 2007  /  http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/north_dim/docs/guidelines05_en.pdf

 

Northern Dimension Policy Framework Document. 2006 / http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/north_dim/docs/frame_pol_1106_en.pdf

 

Polish-Swedish proposal Eastern Partnership June 2008, from web-site of the MFA of Poland. //  http://www.msz.gov.pl/Polish-Swedish,Proposal,19911.html

 

Political Declaration on the Northern Dimension Policy. 2006 / http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/north_dim/docs/pol_dec_1106_en.pdf 

 

 

Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation.  Approved by President of the Russian Federation V. Putin on 12 February 2013/ http://www.mid.ru/bdomp/ns-osndoc.nsf/e2f289bea62097f9c325787a0034c255/0f474e63a426b7c344257b2e003c945f!OpenDocument

Metodi didattici

The course will be delivired in the form of lectures, discussions and presentations by the students, thus every lecture will include the seminar elements. 

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

Presentations in class by the students on the drafts of the research papers

 

Research papers by the students – submission deadline 1 of June, 2014

 

Final written exam – 11 of June, 2014. 

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Computer, power point software  and projector

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Aleksandr Izotov