POST-EUROPEAN RUSSIA

NEW STAGE OF TRANSFORMATION

Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of Russia in Global Affairs journal, research professor at National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow)
Alexei Miller, professor at European University in Saint Petersburg, professor at Central-European University (Budapest)
Moderation: Ivan Krastev, Chairman of Centre for Liberal Strategies, Sofia, Permanent Fellow at IWM

The Ukrainian crisis drew the line under 25 years of Russia’s attempts to become part of an "extended West" or "Wider Europe". Despite obvious differences between Russian presidents (Yeltsin, Putin, Medvedev, Putin again) the conceptual course on "integration" remained unchallenged, although conditions on which Russia was ready to embrace the Western pattern changed with time. Ukraine not only reshuffled Russian relations with the West, but also shaped a different perception of priorities both in Russian establishment and society. The previous chapter of "Europeanization", which was seen as a strategic vision after collapse of the USSR, turned into deliberate distancing from Europe as a model. This turn was only strengthened by the profound crisis of the European Union. It is not seen as a model anymore. Meanwhile Russia’s declared pivot to Asia means a change of centuries long European-centric (regardless pro- or anti-European) thinking and re-evaluation of Russian self-identification.
This Report, prepared by a group of Russian intellectuals with kind support of McArthur Foundation, analyses the new stance of Russia vis-à-vis Europe and the West, indicates guidelines for the development in the next five years.

The Report will be presented by two co-authors of the main text – Alexey Miller, professor at European University in Saint Petersburg, professor at Central-European University (Budapest), and Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of Russia in Global Affairs journal and research professor at National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow).

Detachment instead of Confrontation:Post-European Russia in Search of Self-Sufficiency