Eurasia Rising: Democracy and Independence in the Post-Soviet Space

by Georgeta Pourchot

Overview

Although the score of countries comprising Russia's near abroad (the former non-Russian Soviet republics) and far abroad (the former non-Russian Warsaw Pact states) are behaving with variably increasing independence in their domestic and foreign policies, Russia continues to regard them as remaining within the same core-periphery sphere of influence formerly exerted by the Soviet Union within the same geographic space. Russia misinterprets bids by these countries to adopt liberalizing structural reforms and to join Euro-Atlantic organizations as foreign-inspired and inimical to Russia's security. Whether Russia can learn to recognize that such bids are in fact natural developments of national self-interest will determine whether healthy and mutually beneficial bilateral relations can develop between Russia and the states of her near and far abroad in the 21st century.

No previous study of the dynamics of post-Soviet assertive sovereignty has as broad a geographic scope as Eurasia Rising, which considers the whole of Post-Soviet Space: DT Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine DT_ Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania DT Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia DT Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan DT Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275999162
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/30/2008
Series:	PSI Reports
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Georgeta Pourchot is Adjunct Professor of Foreign Policy and International Relations and Director of the online MA program in Political Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She is a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where she directed the Euro-Atlantic Security Project. She was a founding member of the Romanian Green Party and served in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies. She is the author of Learning from Successful Cooperation in the Expanding European Space, Euro-Atlantic Integration for Ukraine and Future Security Roles of NATO and the EU: Central and Eastern European Contributions.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Sovereignty from Within
Chapter 2: The Vanguard Central European States
Chapter 3: The Vanguard Former Soviet Republics
Chapter 4: The Late-Bloomer Republics
Chapter 5: Russia and Eurasia - Where To?
Appendix I: Post-Communist Parliamentary Election Turbanout Results in Central Europe and the Baltic Countries
Appendix II: Economic Freedom of the World (EFW), Fraser Institute Ratings
Appendix III: Reporters without Borders Index of Press Freedom
Appendix IV: Gazprom Fees for Gas to Europe and Central Asia

What People are Saying About This

Andrey Makarychev

"Georgeta Pourchot's book Eurasia Rising: Democracy and Independence in the Post-Soviet Space gives an interesting account of the events in what is usually dubbed 'Russia's near abroad', a vast geopolitical area which, instead of being Russia's asset, turned into her burden and a source of endless troubles. Her book is certainly worth of academic attention due to the author's claim that the traditional/classical geopolitical considerations are not any longer sufficient for in-depth comprehension of the developments in the post-Soviet/post-Socialist area; instead, a set of more nuanced approaches is needed."

Simon Serfaty

"At a time when Russia is raising growing concerns for its policies and intentions in Europe, Georgeta Pourchot is giving us a well balanced and persuasive history of the post-Soviet space that must be read and understood in full by students and practitioners alike. Students will learn not only what the facts are but also how facts should be managed into a coherent and sound analysis. As to practitioners, they will find in Pourchot's account a caution against the excessive shifts of mood that have characterized U.S. attitudes toward Eurasia over time."

John J. Hamre

"Eastern Europe countries have long been seen through the prism of the cold war standoff between the West and the old Soviet Union. This bias persists. Pourchot argues that this prejudice fails to comprehend the political dynamic underway in this region. She opens the door for a fresh look at an often neglected region."

The Hon. Zbigniew Brzezinski

"Pourchot's examination of Eastern European and Central Asian national identities and interests provides an insightful perspective on the monumental shifts in Eurasia since the end of the Cold War."

Editorial Reviews

Eurasia Rising: Democracy and Independence in the Post-Soviet Space gives an interesting account of the events in what is usually dubbed Russia's near abroad, a vast geopolitical area which, instead of being Russia's asset, turbaned into her burden and a source of endless troubles. Georgeta Pourchot's book is certainly worth of academic attention due to the author's claim that the traditional/classical geopolitical considerations are not any longer sufficient for in-depth comprehension of the developments in the post-Soviet/post-Socialist area; instead, a set of more nuanced approaches is needed…” —Eurasian Home

From the Publisher