EU Influence and Russia's Post‑Communist Transition

The Influence of the EU

The European Union is an economic world power and is ranked first in international commerce.

It is allied to the USA, even though it has criticized some of its military interventions. It has regularly participated in UN peace missions.

Europe’s international political influence is weakened because its members are sometimes in disagreement. A common international policy would help to solve this problem.

Russia and the Old Communist Bloc

The Development of the Russian Federation

After the dissolution of the USSR, Russia became a regional power. However, it retained most of its nuclear weapons, remained a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and was accepted in international organizations (e.g., the Group of Eight (G-8)).

Process of transition to a democratic system in Russia (first democratic elections):

• 1993-2000: Boris Yeltsin
• 2000-2008: Vladimir Putin
• 2008-2012: Dmitry Medvedev
• 2012-2018: Vladimir Putin

The difficulties have been caused by: the excessive political power of the president and the corruption of certain power groups, which are backed by mafia-type organizations.

The economic transition to the capitalist system initially brought:

• a fall in production,
• a rise in inflation and unemployment,
• a drop in the standard of living, and
• greater social inequality.

The situation has improved since the beginning of the 21st century, due to the export of oil and gas. This has helped Russia to recover part of its international influence and to have closer relations with China, India, the EU and Iran.

Post-Communist Countries

The states that seceded from the USSR are in different situations, according to:

• geographic factors,
• cultural factors, and
• their history with Russia.

Ukraine and Belarus: political tensions between the Russophiles and the pro-Western groups.

Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan: ethnic tensions and disputes over the borders.

Central Asia (e.g., Kazakhstan): under authoritarian regimes.

Chechnya

1. Tried to gain its independence from Russia in 1991.
2. The Russian army suppressed the revolt after a violent confrontation.
3. Since then, pro-independence guerrillas have tried to undermine Russia's control with terrorist attacks.

Countries in Central and Eastern Europe

East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia adopted democracy and capitalism. Their economies are not as strong as those of other Western countries. Some of them have joined the EU and NATO, which has created tension with Russia due to its perceived loss of influence in the area.

Geopolitical Conflicts in Yugoslavia

1. Dissolution of the communist regime in the 1980s.
2. Ethnic and religious confrontations in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia: the Yugoslav wars.
3. The Dayton Treaty (1995) divided the territory into several independent states and organized Bosnia and Herzegovina into two entities.
4. There are still points of friction; in 2006 Montenegro proclaimed its independence from Serbia.
5. Kosovo followed a similar path toward independence.