European-Russian Power Relations in Turbulent Times

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European-Russian Power Relations in Turbulent Times

by Mai'a Cross and Ireneusz Pawel Karolewski

University of Michigan Press, 2021

ISBNs

Cloth: 978-0-472-13228-7

eISBN: 978-0-472-90253-8 (OA)

eISBN: 978-0-472-12835-8 (standard)

About the Book

The Russia-Europe relationship is deteriorating, signaling the darkest era yet in security on the continent since the end of the Cold War. In addition, the growing influence of the Trump administration has destabilized the transatlantic security community, compelling Europe—especially the European Union—to rethink its relations with Russia.

The volume editors’ primary goal is to illuminate the nature of the deteriorating security relationship between Europe and Russia, and the key implications for its future. While the book is timely, the editors and contributors also draw out long-term lessons from this era of diplomatic degeneration to show how increasing cooperation between two regions can devolve into rapidly escalating conflict. While it is possible that the relationship between Russia and Europe can ultimately be restored, it is also necessary to understand why it was undermined in the first place. The fact that these transformations occur under the backdrop of an uncertain transatlantic relationship makes this investigation all the more pressing.

Each chapter in this volume addresses three dimensions of the problem: first, how and why the power status quo that had existed since the end of the Cold War has changed in recent years, as evidenced by Russia’s newly aggressive posturing; second, the extent to which the EU’s power has been enabled or constrained in light of Russia’s actions; and third, the risks entailed in Europe’s reactive power—that is, the tendency to act after-the-fact instead of proactively toward Russia—in light of the transatlantic divide under Trump.

About the Author

Mai’a K. Davis Cross is Professor of Political Science & International Affairs at Northeastern University.

Ireneusz Paweł Karolewski is Professor of Political Theory and Democracy Research at the University of Leipzig.

Reviews

European-Russian Power Relations in Turbulent Times seeks to understand the nature of the threat that Russia poses to the European Union and analyzes the ways that the EU has responded and can respond in future . . . Because of the high quality of the authors and contributions and the well-structured analytical approach, I believe that this volume will be required reading for EU specialists seeking to manage the Russian threat and those who are interested in this topic.

— Mitchell Orenstein

European-Russian Power Relations in Turbulent Times deals with a very timely topic, the crisis in EU-Russia relations, and presents interesting and differentiated views on why it happened and what it implies.

— Tom Casier

Though the contributions in this volume are framed within a broader context of US, EU, and Russian relations, the analysis is particularly useful for a US audience because it examines the situation somewhat outside US interests.

— CHOICE