Continuity and Novelty in the Policy of George W. Bush in regard to Post Soviet Integration (2001–2005)

Abstract

The status of the winner in the Cold War, the overcoming of the socio-economic crisis in the country, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 led to the active foreign policy of George W. Bush in various regions of the world. The article considers the main features of the policy of George W. Bush in regard to post-Soviet integration, their connection with the approaches of George H. W. Bush and W. Clinton. Washington's position went through the stages of complete but cautious acceptance under George H. W. Bush, approval only of economic integration under W. Clinton, non-acceptance under George W. Bush, which was associated with the assessment of initiatives as political (Russia's intention to dominate the region). With the Russian Federation George W. Bush used the approach of George H. W. Bush and W. Clinton: it is necessary to make Russia the «engine» of democracy in the region, but not only through reforms, but also through Western structures, primarily NATO. If democratic change was the criterion for the United States assistance and friendly relations with the newly independent states in the 1990s, then under George W. Bush such an indicator was the intention of a country to fight terrorism. This context was developed from the idea of W. Clinton «only surrounded by democracies will democracy survive in the United States». After the September 11 attacks the attention of the United States to the Central Asian republics of the former USSR increased. George W. Bush continued to develop the integration project that originated under W. Clinton – the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM). In that way, the main difference between the foreign policy of George W. Bush from the George H. W. Bush and W. Clinton became its activity and interventionist character. There is a conceptually new discourse regard to the post-Soviet space and integration processes in the region, but the strategy was based on concepts that originated under the 41st and 42nd US presidents. After the September 11, 2001 attacks Washington's attention in the post-Soviet region focused on the Central Asian countries and Russian-American relations, and the fight against terrorism became a tool and justification for a selective approach in relations with other states. The United States continued to support the idea of democratic messianism, despite the paramount importance of military operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East, continued to monitor reforms in the former Soviet republics and the regional situation, sharply criticizing integration projects that would strengthen Russia's position. In the early 2000s even economic integration began to be seen as political projects that do not meet the interests of the United States. George W. Bush supported the ideas of George H. W. Bush and W. Clinton according to which the newly independent states must be integrated into the Western community through such structures as NATO and the WTO, and the American integration project – GUAM was preserved. First of all, Russia should have been included in the Western structures, after which, due to its geopolitical influence in the region, the rest of the countries should have followed.