Russia-European Union Relationships

2024/2025

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

4

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

4 year, 3 module

Instructors

Алексеев Даниил Олегович

Sorbale, Aleksei

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This class explores the problems and potential solutions driving EU-Russia relations. It talks about the internal workings of both the EU and the Russian state, and traces the way the relations unfolded since the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. If you want to learn why Corfu Island is so important for the relations between Brussels and the Kremlin, what EU-Russian Common Spaces are, or trace the role of the Russian national champion Gazprom in EU-Russia energy relations, this course is for you.

Learning Objectives

• The class aims to equip students with knowledge and skills necessary both to pursure research in EU-Russia relations and to develop policy expertise and advice in the field of EU-Russia relations.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Student is capable of retrieving, collecting, processing and analyzing information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field
• Student is able to work in team
• Student is capable of executing applied analysis of the political phenomena and political processes - by using political science methods - and in support of practical decision making process
• Student is able to conduct professional activities internationally

Course Contents

• The Soviet period in the relations between the EC and the SU
• Entering the relationship: PCA and TACIS as the basis for cooperation in the 1990s
• EU-Russia relations at the turn of the century and the Kosovo crisis
• The issue of Chechnya in the EU-Russia relations at the turn of the century
• Enlargement and the ENP as a challenge for the EU-Russia relations
• Colour revolutions of 2003-2005 as a challenge for the EU-Russia relations
• First gas disputes between the EU and Russia, and the failed PCA renewal
• Russian-Georgian conflict of August 2008 and the PfM initiative
• From the Eastern Partnership initiative through Crimea to the current crisis
• Crisis in EU-Russia relations and the issue of sanctions

Assessment Elements

• Weekly Quizzes (25%): Тест 0.25
  Mini-quizzes contain 10 questions to be answered in 8 minutes. The questions are MCQ with one correct answer to be picked among several. These questions are based on the class materials (lectures and mandatory readings for the seminars) for each topic.
• Review essay (25%): Письменная работа 0.25
  The grade for the review essay adds 25% to the final grade. Group of students (3-4 people) pick a topic for their review essay themselves. The essay has to be an analysis of how some distinct event in the EU-Russia relations (the Kosovo crisis, the Chechen war, the EU enlargement and the issue of Kaliningrad, the color revolutions in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, the gas crises of 2006 and 2009, the Russia-Georgian conflict, the launch of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Ukrainian crisis and sanctions, etc) has influenced the particular policy area of the EU-Russian cooperation. The list of the policy areas follows below: • Security and Defence • Science, Education and Culture • The ‘Common Neighborhood’ and Regional Cooperation • Justice and Home Affairs • Energy • Economy • Environment
• Written Exam: Контрольная работа 0.25
  The exam makes up 25% of the final grade. Students need to answer in writing 4 questions from the list offered by the instructor. In fact, write 4 mini essays. In the course of answering the questions, students have to demonstrate their deeper knowledge of the subject. The exam takes place offline.
• Seminar participation (25%): Активность 0.25
  Criteria of engagement ● Meaningful engagement with the mandatory readings demonstrated ● Own critical approach to the reading and lecture materials elucidated ● By bringing in concepts and empirical examples from other fields of study, the student demonstrates a complex understanding of the introduced concepts ● Contribution to the class dynamics: by reflecting on earlier points and comments, students can again demonstrate a practical understanding of the discussed concepts, as well as their abilities to understand the dynamics of ongoing discussions. Conversely, redundant and self-serving comments will lower the participation grade.

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 3rd module
  0.25 * Seminar participation (25%): Активность 0.25 + 0.25 * Review essay (25%): Письменная работа 0.25 + 0.25 * Weekly Quizzes (25%): Тест 0.25 + 0.25 * Written Exam: Контрольная работа 0.25

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Busygina, I. (2017). Russia-EU relations and the common neighborhood. Coercion vs. authority. Taylor & Francis Group (Routledge). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315443966
• Haukkala, H. (DE-588)141782374, (DE-627)631191704, (DE-576)187013462, aut. (2010). The EU-Russia strategic partnership the limits of post-sovereignty in international relations Hiski Haukkala.
• Maxine David, Jackie Gower, & Hiski Haukkala. (2013). National Perspectives on Russia : European Foreign Policy in the Making? Routledge.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Perspectives on EU-Russia relations ed. by Debra Johnson . (2005).
• Russia and the European Union prospects for a new relationship ed. by Oksana Antonenko and Kathryn Pinnick. (2005).

Authors

• ALEKSEEV DANIIL OLEGOVICH