The EU, Russia and the shared neighbourhood: Relations after the War in Ukraine, 5 op

The course focuses on relations between the EU, Russia and their shared neighbourhood before and after the war in Ukraine in 2022. It combines theoretical approaches with an empirical and policy focus. Particular attention is devoted to security issues, regional integration projects and case studies in selected policy areas, notably energy and memory politics.

The course reviews the different theoretical angles that scholars apply to analyse the EU’s and Russia’s policies, as well as their interaction in the shared neighbourhood. This includes Realpolitik approaches, constructivist explanations based on the Self/Other dichotomy and the influence of Orientalist, imperialist and postcolonial thinking on current politics.

The case studies focus on the most salient policy areas for relations between Russia, the EU and the shared neighbourhood. Energy relations have long been the most lucrative, and arguaby the most strategic area of cooperation, despite frequent and mutual accusations of ‘weaponising’ this trade. Security issues have marred relations in a crescendo since 2014, culminating in the 2022 war. The course analyses the escalation of 2014 and the 2022 war as fundamental watersheds in EU-Russia relations and regional politics. It also explores how the security agenda has expanded to the Mediterranean theatre following the Western intervention in Libya, Russia’s military campaign in Syria and both sides’ influence in other regional conflicts.

Different interpretations and uses of history are also analysed, as they have been central to the discursive contestation between the EU, Russia and neighbouring countries since 2014. Events and concepts borrowed from the Second World War are ubiquitous in political and public debates. The course concludes with a simulation game concerning EU-Russia relations, i.e. a European Council summit where EU member states attempt to agree on a common position vis-a-vis Russia in a crisis context.