Transcript Countries of the CIS and Baltics

Countries of the CIS and Baltics
(3 credit units, 108 hours)
Objectives:
 to develop a comprehensive understanding of the specifics of international relations in the postSoviet space;
 to develop an understanding of the phases and trends of the CIS evolution, foreign policies,
social, economic and political development of the countries of the CIS and Baltics, their relations
with Russia and connections with Siberia;
 to learn the art of analyzing the problems of integration, conflicts and cooperation in the postSoviet space;
 to learn the activities of regional and sub-regional international organizations established by the
CIS countries.
Competences
A graduate must know:
the specifics and major trends of the development of international relations in the postSoviet space, economic and political processes in the countries of the CIS and Baltics;
major problems of integration, inter-state cooperation and conflict regulation on the postSoviet space;
the phases of development, major areas and problems of the activities of the
Commonwealth of Independent States, regional and sub-regional organizations established
by the CIS countries.
A graduate must be able to:
analyze major international political and economic problems and contradictions, appraise
the potential of cooperation existing in the relations between Russia and the CIS countries, at
the inter-state as well as at the inter-regional levels;
formulate and provide academic evidence to substantiate Russia’s prospective positions on
the vital problems of security in the post-Soviet space and in relations with the major CIS
countries;
to take account of the factors originating in the post-Soviet space while analyzing the
models of social, economic and political development of Siberia;
to discern the specifics of foreign policies, political and economic development of the
major CIS countries.
Major units of the course:
1. The Collapse of the USSR: reasons and process.
Reasons of the collapse of the USSR:
socioeconomic, ethno-cultural, religious heterogeneity of the country;
the national-territorial principle of the federal construction;
the recognition of the nations’ right to self-determination;
the social, political and ideological crisis of the Soviet society
2. Structure and Functions of the CIS Institutions
Composition: Russia; Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Kazakhstan;
Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan; Uzbekistan.
Associated member: Turkmenistan.
Georgia left the CIS in August 2009.
Major bodies:
Heads of States Council
Heads of Governments Council
Foreign Ministers Council
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly
Economic Court
Executive Committee
Seat of the CIS Executive Committee – Minsk
3. Problems of the Economic Development
and Cooperation of the Countries of the CIS and Baltics
1991 – 1998 – economic crisis; in 1996 – the lowest point (53 % of the USSR’s 1989
GDP);
1999 – 2008 – economic growth, annual average rate of 7 – 8 %;
2008 - 2009 – global financial crisis, GDP reduction;
2010 – 2012 – fragile economic growth.
Regional economic groupings:
 The CIS Free Trade Zone (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan);
 the Eurasian Economic Community (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan);
 the Customs Union and the Joint Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan;
 the Union State of Russia and Belarus.
4. Security Relations between the CIS Countries
Russian Military Presence in the Post-Soviet Space:
Belarus;
Ukraine;
Moldova;
Armenia;
Azerbaijan;
Kazakhstan;
Kyrgyzstan;
Tajikistan;
Abkhazia;
South Ossetia.
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
Membership: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.
Areas of activities:
Collective Rapid Deployment Forces;
Collective Operative Reaction Forces;
Opportunities for peace-keeping operations;
Military supplies from Russia to allied countries at reduced prices;
Joint training of military personnel.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Membership: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Observers: Mongolia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan.
Dialogue partners: Belarus, Sri Lanka, Turkey.
5. Conflicts in the Post-Soviet Space
Tajik (1992 – 1997). CIS peace-keeping operation (1993 – 2000). The conflict was settled.
Georgia - Abkhazia (since 1992). CIS peace-keeping operation (1994 – 2008).
Result: a partial international recognition of Abkhazia.
Georgia – South Ossetia (since 1992). Trilateral peacekeeping operation (1992 - 2008).
Result: a partial international recognition of South Ossetia.
Karabakh (since 1988). No peace-keeping operation. The conflict has been “frozen”
since 1994. International mediators – co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, the US,
France).
Transnistrian (since 1992). Trilateral peacekeeping operation since 1992 up to present. The
conflict has been “frozen” since 1992. Negotiations within the «5 + 2» framework
(Russia, Moldova, Transnistria, Ukraine, OSCE + observers, the US and the EU).
Russian - Georgian (August 2008). Russia’s military victory, diplomatic relations with
Georgia severed. Cease-fire established with the EU’s mediation.
Recommended Topics of Master Dissertations
 The “Russian Question” in a country of the CIS or Baltics.
 Economic and Humanitarian Links between West Siberia and a country of the CIS and
Baltics.
 The Customs Union and the Joint Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan: the experience of the first three years.