Russian Imperialism Revisited: From Disengagement to Hegemony

Description

This book examines the nature of Russia’s relations with the former Soviet states (FSS), in particular with countries which formed the Commonwealth of Independent States, in order to assess whether there has been a resurgence of Russian imperialism since the collapse of the USSR. The book sets out to determine whether Russian leaders have attempted to restore a sphere of influence over the former Soviet republics or whether Russia’s policies reflect a genuine desire to establish normal state-to-state relations with the new states. It adopts a comprehensive approach, analysing Russia’s policies towards the FSS across a broad range of areas: energy, trade and investment; military assistance, security provision and peacekeeping; conflict management, political support, and alliance formation. While not denying the Kremlin’s assertive role in the FSS, this book challenges the assumption that Russia has always intended to restore a sphere of influence over its ‘Near Abroad’. Rather, it argues that Russia’s policies are much more complex, multi-faceted, and often more incoherent than is often assumed. In essence, Russia's actions generally reflect a combination of legitimate state interests, enduring Soviet legacies, and genuine concerns over events unfolding along Russia’s borders. This book also shows that, at times, Great-Power nostalgia and a real difficulty with discarding Russia’s imperial legacy shapes Russia’s behaviour towards the FSS. This book will be of great interest to students of Russian politics and foreign policy, east European politics, and International Relations in general. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Maps List of Tables Preface Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction Theoretical framework The imperialist argument Testing the imperialist argument Notes Bibliography Chapter 1: What is Russia? Russia’s foreign policy orientation under Yeltsin Old and new ideas on ‘What is Russia?’ The foreign policy of the new Russian state Russia’s pro-Western orientation (1991–1992) An active foreign policy debate begins (1992) Russian leaders adopt a more assertive policy (1993) A broad consensus is reached (1994–1995) Yevgeny Primakov and the doctrine of ‘multipolarity’ Conclusions Notes Bibliography Chapter 2: Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States Russia and the end of the USSR Russia’s policy orientations towards the CIS Russia’s policies towards the CIS in the early 1990s The CIS space disintegrates further Renewed efforts at deeper integration Assessment of the CIS Conclusions Notes Bibliography Chapter 3: CIS integration under Yevgeny Primakov: Russia’s post-Imperial model Renewed attempts at CIS economic integration Russia–Belarus efforts at deeper integration CIS military cooperation: limited achievements Assessment of Russia’s actions in the CIS military realm Conclusions Notes Bibliography Chapter 4: Russia’s CIS gas trade during Yeltsin’s Presidencies: Towards market-based relations? Russia’s gas trade with Ukraine Russia’s gas trade with Belarus Russia’s gas relations with other CIS gas consumers: Moldova, Armenia and Georgia Central Asia: the gas triangle involving Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Russia Russia’s gas trade with other Central Asian and Caspian producers Assessment and concluding thoughts Notes Bibliography Chapter 5: The outbreak of military conflicts: Russia’s difficulties in discarding its Imperial legacy Russia’s involvement: a neo-imperial paradigm? Assessment: were Russia’s actions neo-imperial? Civil wars and conflict under Primakov: an era of disengagement? Conclusions Notes Bibliography Chapter 6: Vladimir Putin at the helmof Russia: A return of Russia’s hegemony? Putin’s views on Russia and its place in the world Putin’s pro-Western turn after 9/11 Putin’s second presidency: ‘Russia First’ and assertiveness in foreign policy Russia’s civilising mission in Eurasia Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 7: CIS economic integration gathers speed Economic integration moves ahead Towards a single economic space with Ukraine EvrAzES makes progress Towards a new customs union? Russian–Belarusian integration: the challenges of implementation Russian–Belarusian integration falters Assessment and concluding thoughts Notes Bibliography Chapter 8: Vladimir Putin strengthens CIS military integration: A new military bloc emerges Military integration moves ahead The CSTO is born Putin’s second presidency: the CSTO is strengthened further CSTOs in the 2000s: assessment CSTO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation The Medvedev and third Putin presidencies: the CSTO is reinforced further Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 9: Separatist conflicts in Eurasia: Russia’s hegemonic power is reinforced The Georgian separatist conflicts The future of Transdniestria Attempts at resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Conclusions Notes Bibliography Chapter 10: From Putin to Medvedev … and back to Putin: Whither Russia? Medvedev’s foreign policy outlook Putin’s return to the Presidency: the civilisational paradigm is reinforced Concluding thoughts Notes Bibliography Chapter 11: The Eurasian Economic Union: A neo-Imperial paradigm? Towards a single economic space Implementation of the ECU and the SES Rationale behind the establishment of the ECU and the SES Putin launches the Eurasian Union project The Eurasian Union and the Silk Road Functioning of the Eurasian Economic Union Enlargement of the EAEU to new members Conclusions Notes Bibliography Chapter 12: Russia’s CIS gas trade: An instrument of Russia’s hegemony? Russia acquires CIS energy infrastructure The Russian–Central Asian gas trade Gazprom raises gas prices Russian–CIS gas trade in the twenty-first century: towards disintegration? Armenia, Georgia and Moldova Belarus and Ukraine The Central Asian–Russian gas trade Assessment and concluding thoughts Notes Bibliography Chapter 13: The Russian–Georgian war and its aftermath: Russia’s neo-empire Russia’s War in Georgia Attempt to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict The fate of Transdniestria Assessment and concluding thoughts Notes Bibliography Chapter 14: The annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine’s Donbass: Russia’s neo-empire expands Towards the annexation of Crimea The outbreak of war in the Donbass Concluding thoughts Note Bibliography Conclusion The first Yeltsin years Primakov at the Foreign Ministry Vladimir Putin reaches the Presidency Putin’s return to the Presidency Index