Putin's Russia and the Enlarged Europe

Roy Allison is Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He was Head of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) (1993–2005); Senior Research Fellow, Centre for International Studies, University of Oxford (2001–5); and Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham (1992–9). His editorial board memberships include International Affairs. He has previously published, co-authored or edited eight books on Soviet, Russian and CIS foreign and security policies. Margot Light is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics. Her recent publications include ‘Russia and the West: Is There a Values Gap?’ (with Stephen White and Ian McAllister), International Politics, September 2005; ‘Foreign Policy’ in Developments in Russian Politics 6, edited by Stephen White, Richard Sakwa and Zvi Gitelman (2005); and ‘Belarus between East and West’ (with Roy Allison and Stephen White), Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, December 2005. Stephen White is Professor of International Politics at the University of Glasgow, and is a Senior Research Associate of its School of Central and East European Studies and of the Institute of Applied Politics in Moscow. He was President of the British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (1994–7), and is also chief editor of the Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics. His recent publications include Developments in Russian Politics 6 (with others, 2005), and Politics in Europe (with others, 2006).

This is an excellent and up-to-date study of Russia's ambivalent relationship with Europe and with European and Atlantic institutions. Under Putin, it demonstrates, the contradictions characteristic of Russian policy towards 'the West' have sharpened in the face of NATO and EU enlargement: fears of exclusion from the European state system, hesitations over inclusion, doubts and divisions over Russia's national identity, insistence that Russia cannot be required to operate within the rules that apply to other European states."Lord Wallace of Saltaire, Emeritus Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics; Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, House of Lords "How the EU and Russia coexist and cooperate will be a key issue over the next generation. The EU’s approach thus far towards the emerging Russia has been bedevilled by incoherence and inconsistency stemming from inadequate understanding. This meticulous study by three authoritative experts helps to bridge that gap, pulling together the manifold threads which connect Russia and Western Europe, and exploring attitudes and sources of tension on both sides. It should be required reading for policy-makers."Sir Roderic Lyne, former UK Ambassador to Russia "Through opinion surveys, focus groups, and elite interviews, they provide a detailed picture of Russian attitudes toward Europe...The book will be an invaluable guide to specialists." Choice "Highly recommendable to anyone who seeks to get some insight into Russian-European relations as well as to all who are interested in Russian foreign policy." Perspectives

• About the authors. Acknowledgments.Abbreviations and acronyms.1. The place of Europe in Russian foreign policy: Margot Light with Roy Allison.Russia and NATO.Russia and the EU.The impact of 9/11 on Russia’s relations with NATO and the EU.Russian elites and their foreign policy views.Analysis and arguments.2. The domestic management of Russia’s foreign and security policy: Stephen White.Consolidating the Putin leadership.Foreign policy decision-making.Defence and security policy decision-making.The Presidential black box.3. Russian political engagement with the European Union: Margot Light.Russia, Europe and the EU.Recent controversies in Russia–EU relations.Conclusion.4. Russian security engagement with the European Union: Roy Allison.Russian elite debate.Policy achievements and future potential.The European Union’s new security neighbourhood.Conclusion.5. Russian security engagement with NATO: Roy Allison.NATO or the EU as Russia’s principal security partner in Europe?.Russian engagement with NATO.Russian elite debate on NATO since 2000.Policy achievements and future potential.Russian official threat perceptions of NATO and NATO enlargement.Towards associate membership? An agenda for deeper NATO–Russia Cooperation.Russian membership of NATO?.Conclusion.6. Russia and ‘Europe’: the public dimension: Stephen White.Foreign policy: the public political agenda.A ‘European choice’?.A changing security environment.Russia and NATO.Identity: the view from below.Russia and ‘Europe’.Russians and their security environment.7. ‘Russia in Europe’ or ‘Russia and Europe’?: Roy Allison.New challenges in the foreign policy environment.Values, interests and pragmatic policy.Scenarios for future policy.A note on sources.Notes.Index.