The Eurasian Union as a Tool of Russian Geopolitics
203It is therefore appropriate to consider the theoretical foundations of the
European economic integration model as a reference point for the
analytical explanation of the creation of the Eurasian Union.
Furthermore, the case for establishing Eurasian regional integration is
also based on security considerations and cross-border security risks, as
they have been covered by the theoretical framework of the European
integration model as well. From a theoretical point of view, regional
integration is perceived as one of the most effective mechanisms for
promoting prosperity and stability in a region. The regional integration
approach is thus aimed at transferring a region from a geographic to a
geopolitical zone, where states are becoming more and more interconnected
with each other than ever before, resulting in similar perceptions and
comprehension of security threats and risks.^11 In spite of several attempts
at regional integration, Russia has had rather limited success in filling the
power vacuum in the direct neighborhood of the CIS countries so far.
Basically, Russia’s neighborhood consists of countries which still show
insufficient levels of socio-economic, political, and civil development
combined with significant shortcomings in the complex transformation
process over the last twenty years.^12 The failed attempts of Russia at
regional integration in the CIS can thus be seen as a consequence of the
absence of strong common economic and political interests as well as a
paradigm of a common future. From the Russian point of view, the main
idea is actually to promote regional integration among the CIS countries
so that they start preferring regional cooperation to unilateral steps when
faced with the challenges of globalisation as well as security-related issues
and risks.
With this in mind, the article will examine whether the establishment
of the Eurasian Union is predominantly based on the expected economic
considerations from the theoretical approach of European economic
integration, or rather on Russia’s geopolitical concerns, which go far
beyond any economic interests in regional integration. In the particular
case of the Eurasian Economic Union, one major challenge facing the
theoretical paradigms of European regional integration is, therefore, the
limitation in terms of linking theoretical research on regional integration
with geopolitical goals.
(^11) Aydin and Kaptanogly, “Regionalization of Great Power Security – Near
Abroad, Broader Middle East, and European Neighborhood”; Nicoll and Salmon,
Understanding the New European Community.
(^12) Lippert, Die Europäische Nachbarschaftspolitik: viele Vorbehalte – einige
Fortschritte – unsere Perspektiven; Merkel and Croissant, “Conclusion: Good and
Defective Democracies.”