Russia's European Choice: With or Into the EU?

Abstract
"The Russia's European Choice: With or Into the EU?" project analyses the EU-Russia interaction answering the principal question whether the EU-Russia relationship is based on traditional inter-state cooperation, or whether it has elements of integration as well. But it is worth asking whether instead of talking about Russia's integration into Europe it might be better to talk about Russia's integration with Europe? This wording reveals that the process might have certain limits. The project will explore these limits and analyse the underlying factors - structural, institutional and ideational - behind them.

This is done by researching four specific issue-areas: the Russian identity in the EU context, the normative foundation and the role of human rights in the relationship, institutionalisation of a common space between Russia and the EU, and the perspectives and effects of a common border between the EU and Russia.

Theoretical as well as methodological pluralism is the guiding principle in the project. This pluralism is reflected also in the edited book that will summarize the findings of the project.

The project assembles a network of international partners both from the EU, Russia and the United States. The work of the network is structured around annual seminars within which the main product of the project, an edited book will be developed.

Project leader: Director Tapani Vaahtoranta, FIIA, tel: +358 (0)9 4342 0722 email: tapani.vaahtoranta(at)upi-fiia.fi, http://upi-fiia.fi

Researchers:
Hiski Haukkala, University of Turku, hiski.haukkala(at)upi-fiia.fi
Katri Pynnöniemi, University of Tampere, katri.pynnoniemi(at)upi-fiia.fi
Sinikukka Saari, London School of Economics and Political Science,  S.M.Saari(at)lse.ac.uk
Vadim Kononenko, University of Helsinki, vadim.kononenko(at)upi-fiia.fi

Project description