Countries of the CIS and Baltics

1
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
  post-Soviet 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
  post-Soviet space
• to learn the activities of regional and
  sub-regional international organizations
  established by the CIS countries.

2

• Competences
• A graduate must know
• the specifics and major trends of the development
  of international relations in the post-Soviet
  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
  post-Soviet 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 Russias 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.

3

• 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

4

• 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

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• 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 USSRs 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.

6
4. Security Relations between the CIS Countries
Russian Military Presence in the Post-Soviet
Space Belarus
Kazakhstan Ukraine
Kyrgyzstan Moldova
Tajikistan Armenia
Abkhazia Azerbaijan
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.
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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). Russias military
victory, diplomatic relations with Georgia
severed. Cease-fire established with the EUs
mediation.
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• 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.