When the Near Abroad Looks at Russia: The Eurasian Union Project as Seen from the Southern Republics

When the Near Abroad Looks at Russia: The Eurasian Union Project as Seen from the Southern Republics

Author(s): Marlène Laruelle
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Aglaya Snetkov, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 112
Pages: 8-11
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute of History, University of Basel

Moscow's role and legitimacy in the post-Soviet space is widely discussed within CIS countries. Beyond the divergences of opinion concerning the merits of the Eurasian Union project, a key element underlying the prevailing skepticism about Russian-led integration in Central Asia and the South Caucasus is the low level of trust in the Kremlin's capabilities and capacity to effectively manage such an integration project.