EU–Russia Relations in Crisis: Understanding Diverging Perceptions

Description

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. 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