Politics and Security of Central and Eastern Europe: Contemporary Challenges

Description

This book analyzes major contemporary political and security problems in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Presenting case studies on various CEE countries, it highlights the persistence of non-democratic political trends in the region, with particular emphasis on authoritarianism in Belarus and the illiberal shift in the politics of Hungary and Poland. Also, the book examines the growing geopolitical and military rivalry between the West and Russia in the CEE region, which led to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. After addressing the increasing involvement of external entities such as NATO, the EU, the USA, Germany, France, and China, it highlights serious internal and external challenges to the democratic institutions and international security of CEE that call for new formats of multilateral cooperation to be established by the region’s countries. This book is intended for scholars and students of European politics, international relations and security studies, and for anyone interested in the political and security challenges facing the CEE region. Contents Editor and Contributors Introduction References Peripherality of the CEE Region 1 Introduction 2 The Genesis of Economic Inequality in Europe 3 Peripherality in the Rokkan Model 4 Applications of the Rokkan Model 5 Central and Eastern Europe as a Periphery 6 Peripherality as a Problem in the European Union 7 Is There a “Multi-Speed Europe”? 8 The Future of “Multi-Speed Europe” 9 Conclusions References From Authoritarianism to Neo-Totalitarianism in Belarus 1 Main Characteristic of the Neo-Authoritarian Rule in Belarus Before 2020 2 What is (Neo)totalitarianism in Belarus? Reasons of the Regime Changes and Its Basic Elements 3 The Enhanced Political Leadership 4 Political Terror 4.1 Forms and Methods of Terror (Mental and Physical Violence) in Belarus Applied in 2020–2022 4.2 Infrastructure of Terror 5 Dismantling the Elements of Façade Democracy and Destroying the Alternative Information Space 6 Re-Ideologisation and Ideological Purification in the Belarus 7 Consolidation of the Power and Bureaucratic Apparatus 8 Conclusions References Illiberal Turn in Hungary 1 Transformation in Hungary 2 The History of the Fragile Hungarian Democracy 3 The Birth of the ‘Homo Kadaricus’ 4 The Road to Illiberal Democracy 5 The Energy Question and the Russian Affair 6 The Roots of Russian–Hungarian Friendship 7 The International Investment Bank 8 Hungary’s Individualist Strategy 9 The 2022 Elections 10 Conclusion References Illiberalism and Nationalism in Poland’s Politics 1 Understanding the Notion of Illiberalism and Its Derivative Terms 2 The Sources of the Illiberal Turn in Polish Politics 2.1 Internal Sources 2.2 International (External) Sources 3 Manifestations of Violations of Democratic Norms and Values by the Polish Authorities 3.1 Elimination of the Separation of Powers and Violation of the Rule of Law 3.2 Other Violations of Democratic Norms and Standards 4 Consequences for Poland’s Foreign Policy References EU and NATO Eastern Policy 1 Democracy Promotion 2 EU’s Partnership and Enlargement 3 NATO Eastward Expansion References Ukraine’s Attempts to Join the West 1 Introduction 2 Allegedly Open Doors that Cannot Be Entered 3 Ambitious Plans Face Ukrainian Reality 4 Model of Compromise 5 Finlandization of Ukraine? References Russia’s Challenge to Central and Eastern Europe 1 Introduction 2 The Starting Point: Roots of Putin’s Revisionism 3 Russia’s Strategic Culture 4 Doomed to Be an Enemy 5 Signals Missed 6 The Point of no Return 7 Implications for Central and Eastern Europe References Militarization of Security Policies in Central and Eastern Europe 1 Introduction 2 Theoretical Framework 3 The Position of the CEE Region 4 Militarization of the Security Policy in the CEE Region 5 Consequences of Militarization 6 Summary References A Fragile Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 Introduction 2 Threats in the Western Balkans as the Backdrop for Building Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 Internal Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina After the Start of the Peacebuilding Process 4 Involvement of International Institutions in the Stabilization Process of Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.1 United Nations 4.2 The European Union 4.3 Cooperation with North Atlantic Alliance 4.4 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 4.5 Involvement of Global Superpowers 4.6 The Outbreak of Separatism in the Face of the War in Ukraine 5 Conclusions References Energy Security of Central and Eastern European Countries 1 Introduction 2 Energy Security as an Analysis Context 3 Theoretical Assumptions 3.1 General Assumptions About the Theoretical Aspects of Geographical Conditions 3.2 The General Assumptions Behind Historical Materialism and the Structural Approach 4 Central and Eastern Europe from the Overall Perspective of Energy Security 5 Central and Eastern Europe from the Gas Security Perspective 6 Summary and Conclusions References Visegrad Group–Real Entity or Mirage 1 The Redrawn Central and Eastern Europe after the Collapse of the Bipolar System 2 From Economic To Political Initiatives 3 The Visegrad Group in the European Union–Mission Completed 4 The Public Opinion on Visegrad Group 5 The Visegrad Group After 2015 6 Alternatives for Visegrad Cooperation 7 Slavkov Triangle 8 Tensions Within the Visegrad Group 9 Pandemic and Ukraine War 10 Conclusions References Three Seas Initiative 1 Origins 2 The Program of the Three Seas Initiative 3 Functions of the Three Seas Initiative References Central and Eastern Europe in U.S. Foreign Policy 1 Introduction 2 You Are Either with Us, or Against Us—Bush’s Agenda 3 CEE on the Margins of American Politics—Obama’s Agenda 4 American Interests First—Trump’s Agenda 5 Renewing the Role of the United States in Europe?—Biden’s Agenda 6 Conclusions References Central and Eastern Europe in Germany’s Foreign Policy 1 Introduction 2 Central and Eastern Europe in Programing Documents 3 German Politicians Towards Central and Eastern Europe 4 Germany Towards NATO’s and the EU’s Eastern Policy 5 Germany Towards Democratising the Western Balkans 6 Germany Towards Ukrainian Crisis Since 2014 and Russia’s Aggression Against Ukraine in 2022 7 Germany in the Face of the Crisis of Democracy in Hungary and Poland 8 Position on Energy Cooperation with Russia 9 Conclusions References Central and Eastern Europe in France’s Foreign Policy 1 Introduction 2 The Region in France's Strategy 3 2022 Presidency of the Council of the European Union 4 Strategic Partnership with Poland 5 France’s Position on the War in Ukraine 6 2022 Elections 7 Conclusions References Central and Eastern Europe in China’s Foreign Policy 1 Introduction 2 A Changing China in the Global Order 3 Central and Eastern Europe, the 16 + 1 and the BRI 4 The Limited Role of CEE 5 Why Then China is Interested in the Region? 6 The China-Effect: Divides the EU or Just Offers a Leverage? 7 The Russian Invasion of Ukraine 8 Conclusion References