Is Russia a European Power? The Position of Russia in a New Europe

The collapse of the communist regimes at the end of the 1980s has radically changed European structures and has reshaped the context of European integration and European security. With the enlargement of NATO and EU on the agenda, old division lines are on the verge of being erased. The crucial question, of course is what place Russia will take in this new Europe. Will Russia act and be allowed to act as a full-fledged European partner? Or is there a risk that Russia might be isolated, which would mean that new, not necessarily iron, curtains might descend over Europe? Or is Russia a country which is only half-European as it covers the Eurasian land mass?

In this book eminent specialists answer the question "Is Russia a European Power?" in different ways. Their contributions focus on the historical and cultural background of the Russo-European relationship, on the perception and self-perception of Russia. Other authors focus on hot political issues: Russia's position in Asia, the significance of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the enlargement of NATO and EU, and the role of Russia in the Council of Europe. This wide horizon offers a solid context for a good understanding of current developments. For it is now that the foundations of the new, post-Cold War Europe are being laid.