Why the European Union`s Model of Integration is Not a Perfect
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Transcript Why the European Union`s Model of Integration is Not a Perfect
Regionalism Beyond Love Thy Neighbour:
Why the European Union’s Model of
Integration is Not a Perfect Fit in the Caucasus
Undergraduate Research Colloquium
By: Delila Bikic
POL359Y1 – Enlarging Europe and International Course Module in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
Introduction: Why this project?
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Pre-Departure: POL359Y – Enlarging Europe Class, taught by
Professor Robert Austin
Research Trip to Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia (International
Course Module Program 2014)
Final Paper combined academic sources and field research
Source: BBC News
Introduction: Why this project?
Research Interests, Motives, and Objectives
Academic Focus
Interest in European Enlargement
and European Union (EU) Politics
Interest in the Caucasus region
Lead to the study of the European
Union’s involvement in the postSoviet space vis-à-vis Republic of
Georgia
Research and Travel Experience
Beyond the textbook: application and
implication of theoretical policy
frameworks
Field research as a unique
undergraduate experience
Holistic approach to education:
discovering Georgian culture and
heritage
Overview
Research questions and initial expectations
Discussing Methodology
Background of study
Consulting secondary works and theoretical foundations
Field research (interviews with key stakeholders in Tbilisi)
Findings
a need for reflection and revision of predictions
Final conclusions and lessons learned
Framing the Research Questions
What is telling of the current EU-Georgia relations?
What is the EU approach in Georgia? In the wider Caucasus region?
Are there efforts to increase Georgia’s prospects of joining the European
integration project or is the EU focus on facilitating domestic reform in the
country?
If the focus is more internal, in what ways is the EU oriented towards building
stronger neighbour cooperation among the Caucasus countries?
Is it possible for the EU to export and replicate its model of regionalism in the
Caucasus? Can it achieve the same level of political cooperation?
Republic of Georgia
Azerbaijan
Armenia
Source: New York Times
Defining Region and Regionalism
Know the characteristics
“Geographical contiguity and
proximity” (German, 11)
Sub-regionalism Model (Manoli)
(South) Caucasus within the Black Sea
region
Shared economic and political factors
A shared identity: awareness and
consciousness
‘Regionalist Waves’ Theory (Hurrel)
EU as a product of the ‘new
regionalism’ wave
Identity and value driven
Record of Regionalism in the Caucasus?
Early attempts: post-Soviet states viewed regional based initiatives as viable
for national and economic security (i.e. Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS), GUAM Organization, Black Sea Economic Cooperation Project (BSEC))
Diverging outlooks in 2000s: Georgia looks to Europe, Armenia and
Azerbaijan towards Russia
Factoring in the EU involvement: regionalized foreign policy for its “eastern
neighbourhood” (i.e. European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and Action Plans,
Eastern Partnership initiative)
Source: BSEC Web
Value of Field Research
Diversity of Stakeholders
Katevan Vashakidze, President, Eurasia Partnership Foundation
Giorgi Vardishvili, National Expert – Political and Media Analyst,
Office of the European Union Special Representative
Andro Baranovi, Former Head of Georgian Presidential
Administration
Renata Worbel, Second Secretary, Deputy Head of the Political,
Economic, and Press Section, Office of the European Union
Delegation to Georgia
Tornike Nozadze, Deputy Head of the European Integration
Coordination Department, Office of the State Minister of Georgia
on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration
Tamar Beruchashvili, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Georgia
Roman Kakulia, Head of the European Union Assistance
Coordination Department, Office of the State Minister of Georgia
on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration
Findings…
Unpacking Regionalism as a Geographical Construct
EU approach Part I: geography as a determinant of likelihood
and strength of a state’s external relations (Caucasus as a
distinct regional unit)
However… far from a “united Caucasus”
Some bilateral cooperation at civil society level, “unity hard to
achieve” at state level
States lack self-identification with a “common Caucasian
regional identity” (Eurasia Partnership Foundation Survey
Report 2009-2013)
Map of the South Caucasus states
Source: The International Ecotourism Society
The Caucasus Way: replace the regional partner (i.e. Georgian
relations with the United States)
Findings continued…
Geography Revisited: Domestic Roots of International Relations
EU approach Part II: Georgia to lead by example in the region
Domestic reform for the purpose of Georgia’s role in advancing relations of
Caucasus states as “European neighbours”; Georgia as a “beacon of European
integration” (Beruchashvili, Deputy Foreign Minister)
Thinking about linkage vs. leverage (Way and Levitsky) in the post-Soviet space…
EU’s linkage and leverage in Georgia, deeper ties through democratization
and reform
No EU linkage or leverage in Armenia and Azerbaijan, divide proliferated by
Russia
Findings continued…
Struggles over Territories are Struggles over
Cooperation
Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, Abkhazia
territories: regional as much as internal conflicts
Unresolved territorial conflicts are obstacles to
normalizing relations and trilateral cooperation
(strained Armenia-Azerbaijan relations over NagornoKarabakh)
Russia as an important player in the region has
strained relations
Georgia’s “European Way”: a Reality?
Dependent on the future of Russia’s leverage
Interest-oriented politics as a barrier to Europeanoriented Tbilisi
Map showing regions of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Findings continued…
Caucasian Oil is not European Coal and Steel
Expectation that energy and oil are catalysts for cooperation has not been realized
Shortcomings of EU efforts to bind the Caucasus in collective interests
Oil pipelines (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) have increased potential for cooperation, especially
due to reliance of transit countries for transport (i.e. Azerbaijan oil vis-à-vis Georgia)
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in the Caucasus?
Roman Kakulia, Office of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration: “The ECSC worked
because there was political will to cooperate with other players for unification.”
Final Thoughts and Lessons Learned
Obstacles to replicating EU’s model of regionalism in the Caucasus
Regionalism goes beyond geography, identity and a sense of belonging triumph
Unresolved territorial conflicts and role of third actors
Oil and gas: not a foundation for political integration
Need for a change in the EU approach?
Develop individual identification with the region first, external ties second
Recognize Russia as an important player and engage in dialogue