EU–RUSSIA СOMPETITION IN THE SHARED NEIGHBORHOOD AREA

Abstract

Abstract. After the last wave of European Union expansion the so-called «shared neighborhood
» area (i.e. region of Eastern Europe) emerged between it and Russia. The integration
of this area subjects to a particular political space will determine the power parameters of the
respective centers. In the core of competition between the two subjects of international cooperation
lies a conflict of two different paradigms of development as well as geostrategic goals. At
the heart of European power extrapolation on the region is a value-normative and partly geopolitical
factor or value-oriented geopolitics. Russian power extrapolation paradigm is based on
a pragmatic geopolitics. And the competition takes place in the context of these two paradigms.
At present, Ukraine, which has crucial power characteristics among the shared neighborhood
area participants, is in the focus of this competition.
To achieve their geostrategic goals the two subjects of international interaction apply different
tools, the effectiveness of which is questionable. That is proved by the example of Ukraine, which
is in the process of signing the Association Agreement with the EU.
Given the difference in the civilizational and paradigm development of EU and Russia as
well as their geostrategic goals Ukraine in short- and medium-term perspective will stay in the
area of competition, that will require search of a model of interaction with the neighboring
power centers that will provide Ukraine with development free from foreign pressure.
Key words: Ukraine, EU, Russia, shared neighborhood area, transformation power, Association
Agreement.