The Ukraine Crisis and Russia's Attitude towards the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europa

Masterarbeit , 2017 , 59 Seiten , Note: 1,7

Politik - Region: Russland

The Ukraine crisis reached its peak point with the Russian annexation of the Crimea peninsula at the beginning of 2014. The annexation has since marked a turning point in the Russian-Western relations. Russia has disrespected international laws and norms, and thereby questioned the European order. The crisis reflects a significant shift in European geopolitics. It is a symptom amongst others of the long-term development in the Russian-Western relations.

The crisis has exposed how vulnerable the post-Cold War European order is. The crisis management of the Weimar Triangle and Visegrad Group has not been fruitful. Indeed, the only forum which has succeeded in keeping the Russian-Western dialogue alive has been the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). It is the largest regional security organization in the world comprising fifty-seven member states from Europe, Northern America, and Asia. The organization bases its work on the shared values of its member states and aims to promote peace, security, and democracy.

Since the organization is so central to the conflict, the research question aims to explain Russia’s attitude towards the OSCE during the Ukraine crisis by asking: What was the Russian attitude towards the OSCE during the Ukraine crisis from 2013-2016?

In support of the research question the paper will refer to Russia’s behavior towards other states on the former Soviet territory in order to draw parallels to the approach towards Ukraine before 2013 to establish an understanding of Russia’s general stances on the intergovernmental organization and the development of the relations.

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Theory and Background Perspectives
• 2.1 Neoclassical Realism
• 2.2 Collective Security and the structure of the OSCE
• 2.3 Collective Security and the success of the OSCE
• 2.4 The crisis of the OSCE and the decisive role of Russia in it
• 3. Context: Background of the Russia-OSCE relationship: The stages of the Kremlin's OSCE policy
• 4. Methodology
• 5. Limitations
• 6. Case Study Analysis: Through the lens of Neoclassical Realism
• 6.1 Power considerations as a driver of Russia's foreign policy
• 6.2 How the Kremlin's interests in the crisis shaped its attitude towards the OSCE
• 6.3 The perception of the OSCE during the crisis and the Russian ‘shock’
• 7. Further Implications
• 8. Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This dissertation aims to explain Russia's attitude towards the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during the Ukraine crisis. It specifically investigates Russia's actions and motivations from 2013 to 2016, arguing that Russia's approach to the OSCE remained consistent throughout the crisis.

• Russia's foreign policy objectives and interests in the context of the Ukraine crisis
• The role of the OSCE as a platform for dialogue and crisis management
• The impact of the Ukraine crisis on Russian-Western relations
• The interplay of power considerations and international norms in shaping Russia's behavior
• The perception of the OSCE by Russia in the context of the crisis

Chapter Summaries

• Chapter 1: Introduces the research question and provides background information on the Ukraine crisis and its impact on European security. It highlights the significance of the OSCE in the context of the crisis and discusses the research methodology employed in the dissertation.
• Chapter 2: Establishes the theoretical framework for the study by examining the concept of Neoclassical Realism and its application to understanding Russia's foreign policy. It explores the role of the OSCE in collective security and analyzes the challenges and limitations faced by the organization.
• Chapter 3: Provides historical context by analyzing the evolution of Russia's OSCE policy, highlighting key milestones and the Kremlin's strategic considerations in its interactions with the organization.
• Chapter 4: Discusses the research methodology used to analyze Russia's attitude towards the OSCE during the Ukraine crisis. It outlines the sources of data, the analytical framework employed, and the limitations of the research.
• Chapter 5: Examines the core tenets of Neoclassical Realism and how they inform Russia's foreign policy decisions, focusing on the role of power considerations and the perception of threat in shaping Russia's behavior.
• Chapter 6: Analyzes Russia's actions and statements regarding the OSCE during the Ukraine crisis, investigating how the Kremlin's interests and objectives shaped its approach to the organization. It examines Russia's strategic calculations in utilizing the OSCE for its own purposes.
• Chapter 7: Delves into the perception of the OSCE by Russia in the context of the Ukraine crisis, exploring Russia's strategic calculations in utilizing the OSCE for its own purposes. It examines Russia's strategic calculations in utilizing the OSCE for its own purposes.

Keywords

This dissertation focuses on the intersection of Russian foreign policy, the Ukraine crisis, and the OSCE, specifically exploring the role of Neoclassical Realism, collective security, power considerations, and international norms. Key terms include: Ukraine crisis, Russia, OSCE, Neoclassical Realism, power politics, international order, crisis management, and security architecture.

• Hochschule: University of Kent (Brussels School of International Studies)
• Note: 1,7
• Autor: Otto Möller (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2017
• Seiten: 59
• Katalognummer: V373375
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668521315
• ISBN (Buch): 9783668521322
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: International Relations, Ukraine, Crisis, Security Studies, Russia, Putin, Crimea, Neoclassical Realism, OSCE, EU, Collective Security, Back to Diplomacy, Sakwa, Tsygankov, Zagorski, Security Dilemma