COMPARING THE STRATEGIES OF INFLUENCE AND COERCION IN THE EXAMPLE OF RUSSIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION (BOOK REVIEW: IRINA M. BUSYGINA ‘RUSSIA-EU RELATIONS AND THE COMMON NEIGHBORHOOD: COERCION VS AUTHORI-TY’)

Abstract

The article presents a review of Irina M. Busygina’s book Russia-EU Relations and the Common Neighborhood: Coercion vs Authority, where the author develops the concept of ‘soft power’ proposed by Joseph S. Nye. The author of the reviewed monograph tries to demonstrate the application of this concept through the example of the relations between the European Union and Russia. The empirical analysis in the monograph is based on two key assumptions: it is assumed that in the existing world order the EU stands primarily for the stability of the international hierarchy, while Russia is trying to raise its status and influence (especially in the post-Soviet space). In addition, the two sides (the EU and Russia) rely on different instruments of force in international relations. The EU is mainly concerned with the strength of coordination of joint actions; Russia relies primarily on bilateral ties, using ‘compulsion’ in practice, combining the methods of ‘carrot and stick’, and trying to force its neighbors to act in Russia's interests. Based on the theoretical analysis of international power tools, the author of the monograph predicts that the mechanisms of ‘influence’ used by the EU will be more effective ‘force’ than Russia’s mechanisms of coercion. DOI: 10.17072/2218-1067-2019-2-115-118