Eastern Journal of European Studies

Editorial: A spectre is haunting Europe - the spectre of war

Author: Angelantonio ROSATO

Abstract: After decades of peace, people believed that war has been banned from Europe. Then, all of a sudden, the harsh reality of Ukraine crisis slapped our faces. Nobody was ready for that, and presumably nobody wanted this result. But it happened, and it is still here, a burning shame. There are few chances it will fade away by itself. Indeed, it could worsen and expand further, if the right strategy is not implemented. Therefore, it is worth and necessary promoting debate and research on the issue, especially in the current geopolitical context when the Ukraine crisis seems forgotten in the media headlines and all international attention is focused on the Greater Middle East and the Islamic State's threat.

Keywords: Europe, crisis, resilience

Pages: 5-7 | Full text (PDF)

Deepening the economic integration in the Eastern Partnership: from a Free Trade Area to a Neighbourhood Economic Community?

Author: Gabriela DRAGAN

Abstract: Different forms of cooperation and regional integration, implying specific institutional agreements and instruments, have been developed in the last decades in the EU neighbourhood. The offer provided by the Eastern Partnership (EaP), which includes both economic and political objectives, has not proven attractive enough for the Eastern Neighbourhood. The region is currently divided between two global powers (EU and Russia) and two competing regional integration areas, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and the Eurasian Single Economic Space. The paper focuses on the main limits of the economic tools included in the EU's current offer and proposes several directions for EaP's reform.

Keywords: EU Eastern neighbourhood, Eastern Partnership, European Neighbourhood Policy, regional integration, trade, association agreements

Pages: 9-26 | Full text (PDF)

Ukraine in the European arena: a two-dimensional analysis based on macroeconomic criteria

Authors: Sergii VOITKO, Mariia KOKORUZ 

Abstract: This comparative analysis deals with the data on the GDP per capita and the external debt per capita in the European countries. It investigates the interdependence of these macroeconomic criteria, introducing a two-dimensional approach aimed at defining the relation between the debt liabilities of the country and its socio-economic development. The results are then extrapolated to the current geopolitical situation in Europe with the main focus on Ukraine - the Eastern European player within the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership Programme.

Keywords: GDP, external debt, EU, Ukraine, Eastern Partnership, integration

Pages: 27-36 | Full text (PDF)

The impact of the crisis on the national brand of Ukraine

Authors: Oksana OKHRIMENKO, Alexander OKHRIMENKO

Abstract: The research is dedicated to the impact of the crisis on the national brand in Ukraine. We consider the national brand concept from the standpoint of theoretical and methodological aspects. The concept of national brand profile includes goals, functions, participants, tools, target audiences, strategy and tactic. The economic, political, social and technological factors of Ukraine were analysed using SWOT and PEST analyses. Major macro-economic indicators are analysed reflecting negative trends on the economy of Ukraine. It was noted that Ukraine's economy is closely dependent on the balance of political forces in the international arena consisting of interaction between international financial organisations and markets. The negative image of Ukraine as a country with an unstable situation repels potential investors and national business circles. We conclude on the development of strategies and tactics for strengthening the position of Ukraine's national brand.

Keywords: national brand, brand profile, international rankings, crisis

Pages: 37-53  | Full text (PDF)

The multistage nature of labour migration from Eastern and Central Europe (experience of Ukraine, Poland, United Kingdom and Germany during the 2002-2011 period)

Author: Khrystyna FOGEL

Abstract: This article examines the consequences of the biggest round of EU Enlargement in 2004 on the labour migration flows from the new accession countries (A8) of the Eastern and Central Europe to Western Europe. The main focus of our research is the unique multistage nature of labour migration in the region. As a case study, we take labour migration from Poland to the United Kingdom and Germany and similar processes taking place in the labour migration from Ukraine to Poland. In particular, a new type of migration structure developed reflecting new features of integration stages of new EU Member States. This allows us to apprehend how this type of labour migration, within the multistage model, includes periods of time that take into account the inertia of labour movement. This article examines not only the character of A8 migration flows but also the potential drivers of this migration such as economic, institutional, etc. All processes are examined in the 2002 - 2011 time frame.

Keywords: migration, A-8 countries, multistage nature of migration, labour migration, EU enlargement

Pages: 55-81 | Full text (PDF)

Social protection of migrant workers in Ukraine: striving towards European standards under crisis

Author: Nataliia FEDIRKO 

Abstract: The article aims to analyse the state of social protection for migrant workers in Ukraine. We investigated the legal status of migrant workers in Ukraine and carried out a comparative analysis of national and European experience in the area of protection of migrant workers' rights. The author provides grounded support for a set of administrative measures aimed to implement the rights of migrant workers as a part of Ukraine's international and European commitments. The practical significance of the article lies in the evaluation of Ukraine's readiness to ratify Article 19 of the European Social Charter (revised) "The right of migrant workers and their families to protection and assistance". The author analyses the influence of the socio-political and economic crisis in Ukraine on the processes of external and internal migration, and on the social protection policies in the area of forced migrants. Also, the study assesses the social assistance provided to internally displaced persons. Finally, it suggests complex measures designed to counteract the negative migration trend.

Keywords: migrant workers' rights, social protection, migration policy, crisis, migration trends

Pages: 83-110 | Full text (PDF)

The European Parliament in the EU-Ukraine relations - from independence to Orange revolution

Authors: Oleksandr MOSKALENKO, Volodymyr STRELTSOV

Abstract: The article provides insight into the involvement of the European Parliament in the EU-Ukraine relations for the 1991-2004 period. The article argues that the European Parliament proved to be capable of developing and actively promoting its specific "European values" agenda. It demonstrated the ability to maintain the multi-level influence on the relations with the target country by both direct and indirect means. Its involvement into the EU-Ukraine relations was one of the factors which led to the change of Ukraine's development paradigm, marked by the increasing influence of the civil society on the political system. However, the limited number of EU incentives as well as the rigidity of the conditionality patterns application decreased the potential benefits for the bilateral relations. Moreover, the fallacious assumption that the conditionality patterns which were successful for the CEE countries would also be successful for post-Soviet countries became one of the factors that facilitated the split of the Ukrainian society.

Keywords: European Parliament, European values, conditionality, EU external relations

Pages: 111-129 | Full text (PDF)

A new vision of Ukrainian politics or another political trick: reflections on the role of the electoral quota for women in Ukraine and its results

Author: Liliia ANTONIUK

Abstract: The goal of this paper is to analyse the state of women representation in the political environment in Ukraine before and after the adoption of the obligatory 30% quota, as well as to consider the attitude of the society regarding the introduction of such electoral quotas for women in general. The issue of electoral quotas for women is not new for the international community and especially for Europe. However, in Ukraine it has never had due attention: it was ignored both by the legislator and civil society. The year 2015 brought about significant changes in the country and this question was included on the agenda of the Parliament. As a result, the law Ukraine "On Local Elections" of 14.07.2015 has established an obligatory 30% quota for the representatives of one gender to be in stock in the party list. Nevertheless, one can still question whether the legislator has done everything to provide the real gender equality or this has been nothing more than another PR action. Based on the course of the local elections in 2015 and its results, I argue that this time such electoral quota is only political fiction and it is not aimed at achieving fundamental changes in the structure of the political system of the country.

Keywords: elections, electoral quotas, women in politics, gender equality, Ukraine, reformation

Pages: 131-158 | Full text (PDF)

The Ukraine crisis: a multidimensional analysis in China

Author: Song LILEI

Abstract: As one of the most serious geopolitical crisis since the end of the Cold War, the Ukraine Crisis has an impact not only on the reshaping of the Eurasian political architecture, but also on the reconstruction of the world order. This paper deploys content analysis of 45 academic papers on the "Ukraine Crisis" in Chinese core journals (CSSCI) from December 2013 to April 2015, which are further compared with 56 papers whose research subject is "Ukraine politics" in the same journal database from January 2004 to November 2013. Therefore, the current paper explores what the Chinese academia discussed about Ukraine, from a wider range of perspectives, including international political economy, politics, security and international relations over the past 10 years. The findings of the conducted research suggest that Chinese scholars offer a multidimensional analysis on the development of Ukraine Crisis. From an institutional transformation perspective, Ukraine is an important case of political failure leading to social disorders. From a geopolitical perspective, Russia, the United States and the European Union each have their specific objectives in Ukraine. From an imperial studies approach, although the "new Cold War" thesis has been overplayed, Russia seeks to double its efforts in order to look for alignment with anti-West forces, resulting in more complication among major countries. The impact of the crisis is yet to be felt globally and its warning lessons are to be learned by China.

Keywords: Ukraine crisis, EU, Russia, China, geopolitics

Pages: 159-175 | Full text (PDF)

Identifying the new Eurasian orientation in modern Russian geopolitical thought

Author: Toni MILESKI

Abstract: This paper will focus on the interpretation of Eurasianism as a geopolitical concept, as well as on its competition with other traditional theories of international relations that influence contemporary geopolitical thought. Today, we can analyse the concept of Neo-Eurasianism which is seen in the development of the contemporary Russian geopolitical thought. Such circumstances have occurred after 2000, with the beginning of Vladimir Putin's rule started, who, again, tries to position Russia as the dominant geopolitical factor between Europe and Asia. This paper will analyse several statements made by Putin, classified by Alexander Dugin as part of a new trend or a new geopolitical direction. The wide range of political and military activities undertaken by Russia in recent years supports our conclusion that some of them are an integral part of the concept of neo-Eurasianism. This paper will also offer insights into the significance of neo-Eurasianism for contemporary Russia's foreign policy.

Keywords: Eurasianism, Eurasia, Russia, Putin, security, geopolitics

Pages: 177-187 | Full text (PDF)

BOOK REVIEW:

Andrew Wilson, Ukraine Crisis - What It Means for the West, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2014

Author: Loredana Maria SIMIONOV

Pages: 207-210 | Full text (PDF)