Commonwealth of Independent States at 30: why does Russia still support this organization?. Issue 2 (3rd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Šćepanović, Janko
• Is Part Of: Journal of southeast European and Black Sea studies. Volume 22:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 187
• Page End: 205
• Publication Date: 2022-04-03
• Subjects: Russia -- CIS -- hegemony -- cooperation -- institution; Balkan Peninsula -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Balkan Peninsula -- Politics and government -- 1989- -- Periodicals; Geopolitics -- Balkan Peninsula -- Periodicals; Black Sea Region -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Black Sea Region -- Politics and government -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Geopolitics -- Black Sea Region -- Periodicals; 330.9496
• DOI: 10.1080/14683857.2022.2057637
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-3857

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper seeks to assess Russia's policy towards the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as the organization turned thirty years old. CIS is frequently depicted as a failure of integration in the former Soviet space, plagued by Russia's damaging policies of aggression against smaller partners, diverging goals of its members, and inadequate institutional design. This paper argues that Russia continues to support CIS, notwithstanding these issues. By referring to the variables of the theory of cooperative hegemony, I show how Moscow's commitment to it through the creation of a regional identity validates the continued existence of the Commonwealth.