Russia and the EU: Spaces of Interaction

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The annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Russia’s support for military insurgency in eastern Ukraine undermined two decades of cooperation between Russia and the EU leaving both sides in a situation of reciprocal economic sanctions and political alienation. What is left of previous positive experiences and mutually beneficial interactions between the two parties? And, what new communication practices and strategies might Russia and Europe use? Previously coherent and institutionalized spaces of communication and dialogue between Moscow and Brussels have fragmented into relations that, while certainly not cooperative, are also not necessarily adversarial. Exploring these spaces, contributors consider how this indeterminacy makes cooperation problematic, though not impossible, and examine the shrunken, yet still existent, expanse of interaction between Russia and the EU. Analysing to what extent Russian foreign policy philosophy is compatible with European ideas of democracy, and whether Russia might pragmatically profit from the liberal democratic order, the volume also focuses on the practical implementation of these discourses and conceptualizations as policy instruments. This book is an important resource for researchers in Russian and Soviet Politics, Eastern European Politics and the policy, politics and expansion of the European Union. Cover Endorsement Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of contents Figures and tables Contributors Acknowledgments The EU and Russia: space of interaction in times of crisis: An introduction Part I Cultures and philosophies 1 Democratic repertoires of political legitimization: Russian echoes and European realities A bit of theory Democracy in Russia, a contradiction in terms? Russian Echoes Conclusion Notes References 2 Russian cultural policy: From European governance towards conservative hegemony Introduction Post-structuralist discourse theory and Russian cultural policy Post-Soviet ‘Cultural Governance’ 1992–2008 ‘Cultural Hegemony’, conservatism and securitization Conclusion Acknowledgements Notes References 3 Russia’s monuments policy in the Baltic States Introduction Social representation theory as a framework for analysis Soviet monuments—symbols of victory or loss? Soviet monuments in Russian speakers’ perception Russia’s influence in the Baltic States Conclusions Acknowledgements Note References 4 Russian World(s) in Vienna: Agents, compatriots, and people Introduction Russian World: a methodological framework Russian World in Vienna: agents and hubs The Great Patriotic War narrative and weaponization of the Russian World Russian Worlds after Crimea: schism and solidarity Conclusion Acknowledgements Notes References Part II Policies and politics 5 National conservative parties in Baltic-Nordic Europe: No countries for Putin’s men Introduction Sweden Finland Denmark Norway Poland Estonia Germany Conclusions Notes References 6 The political discourse of the Kremlin in Spain: Channels, messages, and interpretive frameworks Introduction The propaganda war between Russia and “the West” Distribution channels of the Kremlin’s propaganda discourse in Spain Interpretive frameworks and Russian propaganda messages in Spain The political use of the past: the Ukraine and the war against fascism Conclusions Notes References 7 Russia’s strategy of influence in Europe: A French case study Introduction A difficult context State of the art Rationale, method and structure An alternative ideological model Fertile ground “Anti-système” What is Russia’s counter-model? New, tailored vectors of strategic influence A trans-partisan political pull The media offensive Strategic intimidation Conclusion Notes References 8 Russian threat as a push factor in the European integration discourse in Poland Introduction Russia and new Central European EU member states The crisis in Ukraine – the Polish perspective The crisis in Ukraine in the Polish political discourse – the electoral campaign to the EU Parliament Conclusions Notes References 9 The European Union and Russia in the contested South Caucasus: How to move forward Introduction The European Union and Russia in the South Caucasus The EU’s quest for an influential role in the South Caucasus Russia’s political, security and economic agenda in the South Caucasus The EU’s possible role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and possibility of moving forward in relations with Russia Notes References Part III Legal norms and practices beyond the (EU)rope 10 Defending its rights or testing the limits?: Trade relations and disputes between Russia and the EU before ... Introduction EU–Russia trade relations: history and development Russia’s history in international trade before 1991 Russia in international trade after the collapse of the USSR Russia’s trade-related development between the collapse of the USSR and the Ukraine crisis EU–Russia trade after the Ukraine crisis Russia and the WTO Russia as a WTO member Russia in the WTO dispute settlement Russia’s WTO membership: other conclusions Conclusion Notes References 11 Who may sail the Arctic?: Russia’s and the EU’s perspectives on the legal status of the Northern sea route Introduction Russia’s sovereignty over the NSR History of Russia’s sovereignty claims over the Arctic water The NSR as Russia’s “national transport route” The NSR’s straits as internal waters Russia’s right to protect the Arctic environment beyond its territory The EU’s position on the legal status of the NSR Conclusion Notes References 12 The institution of citizenship and practices of passportization in Russia’s European neighbourhood policies Introduction Citizenship in a global world Passportization as extraterritorial naturalization The conferment of Russian citizenship Legal framework Russian compatriot policy in general Passportization as a policy tool Abkhazia South Ossetia Transnistria Crimea Donbas region Conclusion: Common denominators of Russian Passportization policies Notes References Part IV Methodological conclusion How to study and teach anew EU– Russia relations: A methodological conclusion in seven points Index