Le processus de réforme des Etats postsoviétiques : politiques et interactions de l'Union européenne et de la Russie dans leur voisinage commun

Abstract

Domestic change in post­Soviet countries : The impact of EU's and Russia's policies in their ''common neighbourhood''. The article explores the interplay between domestic change and external actors' policies in a regional context characterised by a growing rivalry between the European Union and Russia. In recent years, both actors have launched deep economic integration projects premised on regulatory convergence and policy transfer, namely the Eastern Partnership for the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union for Russia . The article asks how the reform process of post­Soviet countries is affected by multiple external influences. In exploring this question, it departs from the prevailing geopolitical understanding that places the focus on EU­Russia rivalry and regards post­Soviet countries as mere objects of the contest engaged in the ''common neighbourhood". Instead, the article assumes that the competition between two integration projects provides domestic actors with additional leverage in the reform process.