Volume 19, Issue 82 , September 2013, , Pages 1-28
Abstract
After the Cold War, relationships among the European countries and Russia entered into a new phase. Despite the rise in of interactions between Brussels and Moscow through cooperation ...
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After the Cold War, relationships among the European countries and Russia entered into a new phase. Despite the rise in of interactions between Brussels and Moscow through cooperation agreements, 1994 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, Energy Roadmap 2050, and other partnerships in such regards as fighting against terrorism and WMDs, these two actors are in wide divergences and rivalries in some areas. Although economic significance of Russia for Europe has been on the rise during recent years, there have been major vicissitudes in political relations. In its new presidency period of Putin, Russia has been making fresh attempts to gain its previous position. In many cases, however, Moscow’s interests and values are put in stark contrast with those of Europe’s. In the present study, divergence and rivalry dimensions between the EU and Russia are to be investigated. Areas like energy (in spite of interdependencies), renovation, South Caucasus, common neighborhood, and security are, as believed by the authors, confronting major disagreements.
Volume 19, Issue 82 , September 2013, , Pages 104-129
Abstract
Increasing role of energy and economy in international relations, has forced the states to find new economic resources in other parts of the world. Russia as an energy superpower ...
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Increasing role of energy and economy in international relations, has forced the states to find new economic resources in other parts of the world. Russia as an energy superpower in the world is trying to revive the authority of the Soviet era. Extension of influence in the former Soviet Union Republics is one of the major tools for Russia to implement this goal. Huge resources of energy in Central Asia, has persuaded Russia to be active in this region. For this purpose, Russia has promoted its political and economic relations with Central Asian states to become a great power in the "New Abroad" region. Russia is trying to maintain its supremacy in the world energy markets by controlling region's energy. Russia has tried to holds Central Asian Republics in the sphere of its influence through increasing control over the region's energy resources, deployment of its forces in Central Asia and creating of regional organizations. Russia wants weak Central Asian republics in terms of defense and economy and through that policy maintains its dominance on these countries. The main question is "whether Russia can maintain its influence in Central Asia? Our hypothesis is that considering the importance of energy which is on the rise within international economies and in creasing presence of other powers in Central Asia ,a tight competition is forged in the region that can Russia’s dominance and in flounce in Central Asia.
Geographical proximity of Russia and the EU, Moscow’s political, security and economic influence, Russia-EU high trade turnover and sensitive sphere of energy have made inevitable ...
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Geographical proximity of Russia and the EU, Moscow’s political, security and economic influence, Russia-EU high trade turnover and sensitive sphere of energy have made inevitable the cooperation and partnership between the EU and Russia. Although Russia is an extremely sophisticated partner for the EU, improving interaction between the two sides is possible and dependent on merging of their political aims on strategic issues including to ensure energy supply security. Energy security is one of the most controversial issues among the Eu - Russia negotiation and cooperation. Since the 1960s, the energy variable has played a vital role, in a way that the formal and informal relations between Russia and European countries have experienced increasing growth.
This paper maintains that promoting relations between Russia and the EU would excessively depend on their mutual energy cooperation. Therefore, redefining Russia-EU energy relations and principal goals of Russian energy policy towards EU and vice versa are of considerable importance. From this point of view, the different degree of interdependence in the Russia-EU energy relations, diversified interests and the both sides’ aims in energy policy-making have had a negative impact on the bilateral relations in this strategic area.
US-Russia relations have been a function of widespread international considerations, having roots in the history of their foreign relations. At the end of the Cold War, the concept ...
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US-Russia relations have been a function of widespread international considerations, having roots in the history of their foreign relations. At the end of the Cold War, the concept and nature of the relations between these two superpowers changed from a level of two equal superpowers toward to Hyper-Power and Great Power. This is done while yet Issues and implications of bilateral affected by perspectives of the Cold War, and as a result of this mentality and existing realities regarding different capabilities of the two sides, interactive approaches of the post-cold war affected by combining old strategies and new methods of diplomacy. In this article attempts are made to analyze their mutual perception toward one another using the paradigm of the defensive realism and balance of threat as the fundamental principle of this approach. Also in this article, competition and cooperation are being considered based on negotiation and conflict of interest.
Volume 17, Issue 76 , November 2012, , Pages 23-43
Abstract
In many texts of international relations, the concept of security is generally considered as the ability to counter the threats of armed attacks. Meanwhile, the scarcity of energy sources ...
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In many texts of international relations, the concept of security is generally considered as the ability to counter the threats of armed attacks. Meanwhile, the scarcity of energy sources has been among the most significant causes of conflicts in the 20th century. Countries have their own and of course different definitions and perceptions of energy security. For example, in developed countries energy security is defined based on the accessibility and sufficient supply with proper and reasonable prices, while exporting countries regard energy security as the security of demand and an increase of energy prices.
In this article, focusing on energy security as our theoretical framework, we will examine the EU-Russian relations in the energy area. Although as an energy exporting country Russia has the upper hand before the EU, which is heavily dependent on importing energy, both sides’ perceptions of energy security have shown that these two actors are dependent on each other at the same level. This type of reliance has created a situation in which they are to have close politico-economic relations.
Volume 16, Issue 70 , November 2011, , Pages 95-121
Abstract
In recent years, relations between the Russia Federation and the south littoral states have experienced some developments. While Russia is continuing its main role in the area, the ...
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In recent years, relations between the Russia Federation and the south littoral states have experienced some developments. While Russia is continuing its main role in the area, the role of other regional and international actors, such as United States and NATO is increasingly challenging the Russian interests in its vital backyard, the Near Abroad, as called by Russians. To face these challenges and secure its national security and vital interests, Russia is trying to find an effective and less expensive solution.
Considering the new conditions of the region, wherein Moscow is unable to discard all rivals from the Central Asia and especially Caucasus political arena, Russian policy and effectiveness has directed and seems to be continued toward not letting its rival strategies achieve their expected results. Russia is also trying to utilize from its privileged economic, political, military situation in the region to control foreign policy behavior of the Caucuses republics in order to eliminate those factors that are in Russian view contradicting with its national security and interests. In this way Russia hopes preventing or delaying the region in its integration with the West political and security structures.
Volume 16, Issue 71 , November 2011, , Pages 108-133
Abstract
Republic of Chechnya in southern Russia, north Caucasus and in the tense borders between Dagestan and Republic of Azerbaijan, in the past 18 years was perhaps the most important territorial ...
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Republic of Chechnya in southern Russia, north Caucasus and in the tense borders between Dagestan and Republic of Azerbaijan, in the past 18 years was perhaps the most important territorial problem whose fate is tied with other republics of the Russian Federation. Hence, the resolve or not of the Chechnyan problem and the Russian confrontation with is a model for other Russia's Muslim republics to follow in the future. The problem between Chechnya and Russia is not only an agenda of the recent decades or even past century, but an historical one since the Tsarist period as well. In this article, after a review on the history of mainly tense relations between the two, interrelations between Russia and Chechnya in the post Soviet era is also investigated. The causes and grounds for tension between the two and Russian officials' positions in this regard have also been debated. The question posed here is the supply source of violence in Chechnya and the role of Russian government in it. The article's hypothesis is that the violence in Chechnya arouses on the one hand from the Russian approach to Chechnya and on the other hand from Chechens ancient history and territory deeply rooted in perpetual ethno-tribal conflicts with every centralized government.
Volume 16, Issue 70 , November 2011, , Pages 121-160
Abstract
Energy security is generally defined as to the availability of adequate and reliable supply of energy to meet the demand and is of issues linked directly to the governments and the ...
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Energy security is generally defined as to the availability of adequate and reliable supply of energy to meet the demand and is of issues linked directly to the governments and the political units. Having considerable reserves of energy and privileged geopolitical situation (neighboring the two oil-rich Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea regions), Iran has always drown the regional as well as international powers' attention.
Iran's situation in oil and gas production and their transportation in a relatively stable Persian Gulf have always been acknowledged by all actors, but this role in the Caspian Sea requires more attention within the Iranian decision-makers due to severe and rapid changes after the Soviet collapse. In addition to serious attempts in reaching consensus on the Caspian Sea legal regime based on our national interests, extensive ties with the Caspian Sea littoral states, especially the Russian Federation and the Republics of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan should not be neglected.
This article is attempting to discuss different aspects of energy security, Iran's stand, current and under construction transportation routes and the policies pursued by international and regional powers.
