Eurasian integration could offer a counterpoint to the EU and the United States, but only in close co-operation with states like India and China

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have pursued integration with the aim of creating a Eurasian Union by 2015. David Lane writes on the economic and political background underpinning Eurasian integration and its potential to act as a counterpoint to the hegemony of the United States in the global system. He argues that while the economic weight of the three Eurasian Union states is fairly limited, pursuing close co-operation with ‘BRICS’ countries such as Brazil, India and China could offer the basis for a more pluralist and multi-polar world.

RIA Novosti reported on the 10 April 2014 that a treaty establishing the Eurasian Economic Union would be signed by the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in May 2014 coming into force on 1 January 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The end of Russia’s Eurasian project http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-end-of-russias-eurasian-project/

Wikipedia: Eurasian Economic Union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Economic_Union

RIA Novosti, 10.04.14: Eurasian Economic Union Treaty to Be Signed in May – Russian Official http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140410/189145317/Eurasian-Economic-Union-Treaty-to-Be-Signed-in-May--Russian.html

The Guardian, 18.02.14: A brief primer on Vladimir Putin's Eurasian dream http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/feb/18/brief-primer-vladimir-putin-eurasian-union-trade

Deutsche Welle, 15.03.14: Putin's power play jeopardizes Eurasian Union plans http://dw.de/p/1BOlo

Blog: EuroppBlog, 17.04.14: Eurasian integration must be based on clear values and principles rather than simply Russian influence http://bit.ly/1gL21JN

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