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Power in EU–Russia Relations: More than Meets the Eye

Casier, Tom (2021) Power in EU–Russia Relations: More than Meets the Eye. In: Romanova, Tatiana and David, Maxine, eds. The Routledge Handbook of EU-Russia relations: Structures, Actors, Issues. Routledge, London, UK, pp. 82-92. ISBN 978-1-138-54367-6. E-ISBN 978-1-351-00626-2. (doi:10.4324/9781351006262) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:93597)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided. (Contact us about this Publication)
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https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351006262

Abstract

Relations between the EU and Russia cannot be understood without analysing the role of power. Yet, the reality of power in EU—Russia relations is much more complex than assumed when literature reduces power to a single factor such as military strength, economic size or control over resources. This chapter unravels this complexity by taking an approach that integrates different dimensions of power: compulsory, institutional and structural forms of power. This leads to a nuanced understanding of power, in which different dimensions of power feature simultaneously. It is argued that an important part of the power competition between the EU and Russia is fought on the subjective front of attribution and perception of power. It is against this background of multi-dimensional power relations and subjectivity that we can understand the strategic choices made in Brussels and Moscow. With the Ukraine crisis, the emphasis of the power struggle shifted from rivalry over identities and institutional arrangements in the neighbourhood to competition over control. Russia chose a course of weakening Western effective control and punching above its weight by creating maximal perceptions of power, while the EU moved towards a more explicit geopolitical position.

Item Type: Book section
DOI/Identification number: 10.4324/9781351006262
Uncontrolled keywords: Russia, EU, power, strategy
Subjects: J Political Science > JZ International relations
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Politics and International Relations
Depositing User: Tom Casier
Date Deposited: 15 Mar 2022 15:06 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Mar 2022 10:39 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/93597 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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