Russia on the Move-Between Europe and Asia

• 발행기관: 아시아.유럽미래학회​
• 저자명: Lyudmila Yushina
• 간행물 정보: 『유라시아연구』제2권 제1호, 293~310쪽, 전체 18쪽
• 주제분류: 사회과학 > 사회과학일반
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2005.06.30

국문 초록

Russia’s size, spanning two continents, natural and human endowments, such as mineral and oil wealth as well as skilled and highly educated population, together with membership in key regional and global organizations, such as the UN Security Council, G-8, APEC, candidate member of WTO, and successor the Soviet Union, makes it an important player on the world stage today. And its geographical location in the heartland of the Eurasian landmass makes it a natural focus for a conference on Asia-Europe perspectives. At the same time, Russia faces unprecedented challenges that even in normal times would be daunting. There is the issue of Russia’s so-called democratic deficit that needs to be understood in an historical and cultural context. Democracies do not blossom overnight and, as an aspiring young democracy, it cannot be judged by American or European standards. Russia also places great importance on its relationship with the specifically, the iragreement on four common spaces, including freedom, security and justice, external security, and counter terrorism, a common economic space, including energy and environment, and a common space for research, education and culture. Russia also faces security challenges in territories that were once part of the Soviet Union, in particular, the soft underbelly stretching from Georgia in the Caucuses, through Chechnya, to the “stans” i.e. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Stan, all of which have experienced political unrest and violence recently. Millions of Russians live in these areas and their interests need to be protected as new relationships with Russia evolve and working out new policies with Europe, central Asian countries (the near abroad) through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and in the Far East i.e. China, Japan and Korea is a complicated task. In Northeast Asia, which is of primary interest and importance to Korea, Russia has been in the vanguard of positive change. It has put relations with thetwo Koreas on an even keel and has offered to upgrade the North Korean rail system so that it can connect to the Trans Siberian system linking Asia and Europe, greatly benefiting Korea. It is no accident that Russia has the best relations with both Koreas of any of the four major powers (the others are China, the U.S. and Japan). The latter two do not even have diplomatic relations with the North. Moreover, Russia is prepared to play a mediating role if called upon as part of Six Party talks process to end the North Korean nuclear threat. Finally, in the economic realm, Russia has always had good relations with the ASEAN countries n Southeast Asia, is a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum and has been a member of APEC for almost a decade. Positive Factors o Russia’s favorable standing with both Koreas and forward-looking economic proposals on upgrading the North Korean railroad system and infrastructure o Russia’s active diplomatic role as a member of the Middle East quartet (U.S., EU and UN), cooperation vis a vis Iran’s nuclear program with the EU and U.S. and active participation in Six Party Talks on North Korea’s nuclear program Negative Factors o Unrealistic expectations regarding the blooming of democracy overnight in Russia’s inhospitable soil given its lack of experience in practicing democracy o Instability on Russia’s border in former Soviet Republics, most recently Uzbekistan, and the threat of terrorism at home.

목차

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION

Ⅱ. RUSSIAN RELATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION

Ⅲ. RUSSIA AND ASIA

Ⅳ. CONCLUSION

References