Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Notes on contributors
- ‘Regions’ and their study: wherefrom, what for and whereto?
- Theoretical and thematic approaches
- Regional cases
- The resurgence of the ‘region’ and ‘regional identity’: theoretical perspectives and empirical observations on regional dynamics in Europe
- 6 The contradictions of regionalism in North America
- Latin America: contrasting motivations for regional projects
- The Southern African security order: regional economic integration and security among developing states
- East Asian regionalism: much ado about nothing?
- The Commonwealth of Independent States: an example of failed regionalism?
- Index
The Commonwealth of Independent States: an example of failed regionalism?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Notes on contributors
- ‘Regions’ and their study: wherefrom, what for and whereto?
- Theoretical and thematic approaches
- Regional cases
- The resurgence of the ‘region’ and ‘regional identity’: theoretical perspectives and empirical observations on regional dynamics in Europe
- 6 The contradictions of regionalism in North America
- Latin America: contrasting motivations for regional projects
- The Southern African security order: regional economic integration and security among developing states
- East Asian regionalism: much ado about nothing?
- The Commonwealth of Independent States: an example of failed regionalism?
- Index
Summary
Abstract. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was designed to manage the collapse of the Soviet Union and foster post-Soviet cooperation in political, economic, and security spheres. Over a decade into its existence, most analysts would rate it a failure: many post-Soviet states do not participate in CIS ventures, the institutional machinery of the CIS is weak, and Russia, the most dominant post-Soviet state, has tended to favour bi-lateral relationships over multi-lateral institutions. Why is this the case? This article looks at the CIS through the prism of theories of regionalism, demonstrating that the CIS was handicapped on many fronts, including emergent multi-polarity in the post-Soviet space and domestic-level political considerations in many post-Soviet states.
Introduction
In 1991, as the Soviet Union collapsed, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus came together to create the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), an organisation designed to manage the Soviet breakup and preserve many of the pre-existing economic, political, and military ties among the Soviet republics. Other post-Soviet states rushed to join the CIS, and in the first year of its existence the members of the CIS created a host of institutions for the organisation and signed over 250 documents and accords to give it a clearer mission and focus. Beyond ensuring a civilised post-Soviet divorce, the CIS had a broad agenda to develop new forms of regional cooperation.
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- Globalising the Regional, Regionalising the Global , pp. 237 - 256Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009
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