Сибирь в концепции Большой Евразии

Abstract

The article analyzes the current state, potential benefits and opportunities for the Siberian macro-region within the framework of the concept of the formation of the space of Greater Eurasia announced by V.V. Putin in 2016. The analysis has been carried out on 4 main aspects – political-geographical, geostrategic, geo-economic, and institutional ones. The first one lies in amorphousness of the concept of Greater Eurasia. In its interpretations Siberia occupies a semi-peripheral place since the emphasis of the Greater Eurasian discourse is placed on international consolidation, primarily in the Central Asian region. In the context of integration processes one of the main obstacles is a significant differentiation of foreign policy strategies of the states forming the core of Greater Eurasia, and geopolitical interests of Siberia, which primarily consist in avoiding positioning itself as an export-resource region on the one hand, and competing for sales markets with other countries of Greater Eurasia on the other hand, which casts doubt on the consolidating role of this concept. Nevertheless, the geoeconomic role of Siberia can be improved due to the development of economic integration. The analysis of the level of redistribution and transportability of exports of the Siberian Federal District showed that it is the increased value component per unit of export weight that is observed in exports to countries with a high degree of economic integration. The fourth aspect is the lack of institutionalization of the Greater Eurasia initiative, as a result of which it cannot be effectively promoted, it is especially true about Siberian regions. Possible directions for improving this aspect have been proposed in the article.