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No. 51-52: The South Caucasus Between the EU and the Eurasian Union

No. 51-52: The South Caucasus Between the EU and the Eurasian Union

Author(s): Iris Kempe, Temuri Yakobashvili, Fyodor Lukyanov, Richard Giragosian, Vugar Bayramov, Anar Valiyev
Editor(s): Jeronim Perovic, Lili Di Puppo, Iris Kempe, Heiko Pleines, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung
Series: Caucasus Analytical Digest (CAD)
Issue: 51
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2013

This issue of the CAD examines the South Caucasus' Relationship with the European Union and the Russia-led Eurasian Union. Iris Kempe's article provides an introduction to the main issues. Temuri Yakobashvili examines whether the South Caucasus is a region and concludes that understanding that the differences outweigh the similarities will help the West formulate policy toward the region. Fyodor Lukyanov argues that the Eurasian Union is not an imperial project, but Moscow's attempt to mimic the European Union. However, he notes that the authoritarian nature of the governments involved will create obstacles for the project. Richard Giragosian points out that Armenia has traditionally had close ties to Russia, but has been reluctant to join the Eurasian Union. Vugar Bayramov analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of joining the Eurasian Union for Azerbaijan, concluding that accession is unlikely since it would extract a high political and economic price. Anar Valiyev notes that joining the Eurasian Union would complicate Azerbaijan's sovereignty and ability to conduct an independent energy policy.

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