This book makes an original contribution to Russia-EU literature by analyzing constructions and trans-formations of the Russian 'Self' in relation to the European "Other". It provides an orientation towards understanding Russian foreign policy discourse under Putin and offers a thorough analysis of the actions of key policy actors to ground the Russian discourse ideationally, historically, psychologically, and politico-sociologically. Providing a rich analysis of how Russian foreign policy toward the EU evolved from cooperation to competition and ultimately conflict, the author argues that to understand these changes and continuities we must explore concepts of sovereignty and balance of power central to the drafting of Russian foreign policy. Primarily situated in the fields of International Relations and Russian foreign policy, this book will also be of interest to scholars in the fields of Foreign Policy Analysis, Post-Soviet Studies, Eurasian Studies, Historical International Relations, Critical Security Studies, Political Sociology, and Political Psychology.

About the Author

Dr. Aziz Elmuradov is a research associate at the department of Politics and Society, Faculty of Sociology, Bielefeld University. He studied International Relations, Peace and Security Studies. His research areas cover analysis of Russian foreign policy, Russia-EU relations, and political processes in post-Soviet space against the East/West paradigm. His research interests include political and historical sociology of autocratic politics.

Reviews

'In response to Russia's annexation of the Crimea, Angela Merkel told that Putin lives in another world. Here this world is laid out with admirable clarity. Not unlike nineteenth-century Europe, it is based on balance of power between great powers that have the prerogative of thinking imperially and having their zones of interest where they can do what they want. Given the mismatch with EU realities and Russia's inability to impose their own vision of reality on Europe, this is a recipe for conflict, and perhaps disaster.'

Iver B. Neumann, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway.

'What did go wrong and how come that post-Soviet Russia's relations with the European Union evolved from cooperation to competition and ultimately to conflict? Aziz Elmuradov in a profound and exciting way tells us his version of the 'Tale of Eurasia' that provides unique political, but also historical and cultural insights into this unresolved up to present-day puzzle.'

Sergei Akopov, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russia.

Book Information
ISBN 9781032114149
Author Aziz Elmuradov
Format Hardback
Page Count 178
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 520g