EU–Russia Relations in Crisis: Understanding Diverging Perceptions

✍ Scribed by Tom Casier, Joan DeBardeleben

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 264
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Relations between the EU and Russia have been traditionally and predominantly studied from a one-sided power perspective, in which interests and capabilities are taken for granted.

This book presents a new approach to EU-Russia relations by focusing on the role of images and perceptions, which can be major obstacles to the enhancement of relations between both actors. By looking at how these images feature on both sides (EU and Russia), on different levels (bilateral, regional, multilateral) and in different policy fields (energy, minorities, regional integration, multilateral institutions), the book seeks to reintroduce a degree of sophistication into EU-Russia studies and provide a more complete overview of different dimensions of EU-Russia relations than any book has done to date. Taking social constructivist and transnational approaches, interests and power are not seen as objectively given, but as socially mediated and imbued by identities.

This text will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of European Foreign Policy, Eastern Partnership, Russian Foreign Policy and more broadly to European and EU Politics/Studies, Russian studies, and International Relations.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
List of contributors
Acknowledgements
Acronyms
Introduction: A Transnational Approach to EU–Russia Relations
The Volume
References
PART I:
The Historical and Ideational Context of the
EU–Russia Relationship
1. EU–Russia Relations in Crisis: The Dynamics of a Breakup
Structural Causes: Diverging Views of post-Cold War Europe
Russian Foreign Policy: Changing Strategies towards Great Power Status
The EU’s Policy towards its Eastern Neighbours
The Dynamics of Dwindling Trust
Conclusion
Notes
References
2. Identity and Hegemony in EU–Russia Relations: Making Sense of the Asymmetrical Entanglement
Russia and the EU in a Wider Europe
Russia as a European Subaltern
Policy Implications
Conclusion
Notes
References
PART II:
EU–Russia Bilateral Relations
3. Negative Mutual Interdependence? The Clashing Perceptions of EU–Russia Economic Relations
Introduction
The Development and Structure of EU–Russia Trade
The Institutionalisation of Economic Interdependence
Russia’s WTO Accession and the Partnership for Modernisation
The Politicisation of Interdependence: Economic Relations as a Political Weapon
The Impact of the Ukraine Conflict on Trade Relations
Conclusion: From Positive to Negative Interdependence?
References
4. EU–Russia Energy Relations: Do Institutions Stand the Test?
What Makes TG and TN Institutions Cushion an IG Crisis?
Before 2014: Diversification of EU–Russia Energy Relations
2014 Onward: Primitivisation of Energy Institutions
Conclusion
References
5. From Hidden ‘Othering’ to Open Rivalry: Negotiating the EU–Russia Role Structure through the Visa Dialogue
Theorizing Schengen Borders and Visa Policies
Before the Dialogue: The ‘European Choice’ of Russia and No Choice
by Europe
The EU–Russia Visa Dialogue: Giving Up the Choice for Europe and Levelling the Role Structure
Conclusion
Notes
References
PART III:
EU–Russia Relations in a Regional Context
6. Alternative Paradigms for EU–Russia Neighbourhood Relations
Policy Paradigms and Paradigm Change
Comparing EU and Russian Conceptions of a Common European Space (pre-crisis)
Cracks in the Paradigm: Dissonance over Neighbourhood and Security Policies
The Emergence of the ‘Competing Regionalisms’ Paradigm
Alternative Paradigms
Notes
References
7. No Middle Ground? Economic Relations Between the EU, Ukraine and Russia
Introduction
Ukraine’s Economic Situation
Ukraine’s Relations with the EU and Russia
Institutional Framework: Russia–Ukraine
Regional Integration Initiatives: Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Eurasian Custom Union
How and Why Did Ukraine Reach this Economic Situation?
Conclusions
Notes
References
8. EU–Russia Relations and the Unravelling of the European Security Regime in the Context of the Ukraine Crisis
Introduction: Regimes and European Security
Consolidation versus Erosion: What European Security Regime?
An Evolving European Security Regime: Shifts and Balances in EU–Russia Relations
EU and Russian Understandings of Security: What’s in a Concept?
Ukraine as a Turning Point: European Security before and after Crimea
Conclusion
Notes
References
9. The EU and Russia in the Pan-European Human Rights Regime
Introduction
Advancement of Human Rights
EU–Russia Cooperation on Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights
Conclusion
Notes
References
PART IV:
The Multilateral Context of EU–Russia Relations
10. The EU and Russia in a Multilateral Setting
Introduction
The Concept of Multilateralism
EU and Russian Attitudes to Multilateralism before the Ukraine Crisis
Multilateralism at Work
Multilateralism as Legitimiser
The Ambiguities of Multilateralism since the Ukraine Crisis
Conclusion
Notes
References
Interviews
11. Russia Turns East Again? Russia and China After Ukraine
Russia: the emerging Eurasian pole
Russia as a Great Power
The Impact of the Crisis in Ukraine on Sino-Russian Relations
Analysis and Implications
Conclusion
References
Conclusion
A New Perspective
Which Way Forward?
References
Index