Russia and International Organisations (SZF_064)
About Study Course
Objective
The aim of the course is to synthesise Russian domestic and foreign policy trends and search for internal and external identity and challenges therein to gain an accurate and in-depth understanding of contemporary Russian policy and activities in international organisations; its objectives, challenges and working methods. We will focus on three variables. First, Russia’s internal resources and capabilities. Second, the environment – regional and global. Third, leadership ambitions. The course will examine Russia’s policy towards the US, Europe, China and the so-called post-Soviet space in the context of international organisations. This study course offers a contextually rich and historically informed understanding of the key concepts that continue to shape Russian foreign policy. Rather than being structured chronologically, the course is divided into conceptual clusters that address the most enduring, contentious and ambiguous aspects that together form the core of Russian foreign policy discourse and are reflected in Russia’s policies and activities in various international organisations. Russia’s role in and relations with the UN, NATO, the EU, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Arctic Council, the Eurasian Economic Union, the CIS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation will be examined, covering a wide range of areas. The course will be permeated with an assessment of the political, economic and security interests that shape Russia’s foreign policy, Russia’s approach to multilateralism and its activities within multilateral institutions.
Prerequisites
General knowledge of the theories and methods of international relations and basic historical knowledge of the period after World War II.
Learning outcomes
Using the in-depth knowledge of Russia’s role and activities in international organisations acquired in the study course, students will compare and contrast Russia’s approaches both within the organisations it has established and Russia-centred organisations (e.g. CIS, CSCE, EEU) and in wider regional and international organisations (e.g. UN, OSCE, EP).
Based on a literature analysis of historical and current experiences of transitional processes, students will explain Russia’s approaches, challenges and opportunities within different international organisations.
Students will select and critically evaluate the scientific literature relevant to the topic of the independent work on Russia’s participation and role in international organisations and the factors characterising it, combining theoretical and empirical sources, as well as sources from Russia itself, international organisations and other countries, along with analytical materials from researchers and the results of journalists’ work.
Students will critically evaluate ideas expressed in the scientific literature and discuss the interpretation of these ideas in peer presentations.
When preparing their independent work, students will compare and contrast different methods of Russia’s operation in different international organisations.
By contrasting Russia’s activities in different organisations, students will demonstrate in practice their understanding of Russia’s role, activities and future development scenarios within the framework of international organisations in professional, academic and business environments. Analytical competences will be developed as students base their conclusions on the identification, correlation and interrelation of causal links.
Using their competences in different fields and their knowledge of the factors influencing Russia’s actions, students will forecast Russia’s actions in different international formats and develop the ability to generalise and apply these skills to other countries in these and other international organisations, as well as to other issues where the national and international environment closely interact.
