The new security environment. The impact on Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract:

This work examines closely the impact that expansion of NATO and the EU might have upon the security and foreign policy environment in Russia.

The book is in three parts, the first of which looks at the role of the United States and Russia in security. Chapter one considers the new assertive unilateralism of the Bush administration and the impact that will have upon US relations across the globe. Chapter two examines the weakened position of Russia following the break-up of the Soviet bloc and Putin’s attempts to re-establish Russia as an important world player. Chapter three builds on that argument by analysing the shifts in Russian policy since 9/11, which again shows Putin’ pragmatic abandonment of Russia’s competition for world dominance with the US. Chapter four explores the potential influence of NATO and the EU’s eastern expansion upon those countries left out of the process, such as Russia and Ukraine, as well as the EU’s attempts to forge a Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Part two looks at foreign and security policy developments in Central and Eastern Europe over the last decade or so. Chapter five examines the security aspect in the context of migration and terrorism and their importance in development of a common foreign and defence policy for the EU. Chapter six covers the attempts by the Czech Republic and Slovakia to reform their military structures in accord with commitments made to NATO. Chapter seven examines the special relationships among the four Visegrad countries - Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia - and their importance for Slovakian implementation of policy reforms necessary for admission to NATO in the second round of expansion.

Part three, ‘Russia’s Regional Security Challenges’, deals with the post cold war security environment in Central and East Asia. Chapter eight shows the Putin pragmatism at work in Russia’s relations with Belarus and Ukraine, producing two quite different outcomes. Farewell Soviet bloc, hello CIS bloc - and it might be argued, as it is in chapter nine, that Russia may say ‘So what’s new? We are still the biggest bears at the picnic!’ But they will have to tread more carefully in acknowledgement of regional circumstances. Chapter ten offers a detailed study of Russia’s relations with Tajikistan but questions the contribution Russia can make to Tajikistan’s continuing development. Chapter eleven concentrates upon the issues surrounding the oil and gas reserves of the Caspian Basin and Central Asia and the strong interest shown by China. Chapter twelve considers the lost opportunity of the US to bring Russia into play in the North Korean problem through its influence in Northeast Asia. The final chapter takes forward some of the discussions of earlier chapters, including the changed security environment which sees the US as the only superpower with the capability to enforce its will upon major areas of the global community. It is perhaps the time for friends to encourage some careful reflection by the US in its search for the new threat that stalks its paranoia.

The work will interest scholars, students and researchers engaged in Defence Studies, International Affairs, Strategic Studies and European enlargement.

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