The dynamics of state and societal actors in Russia’s policy on the EU

Abstract

The chapter examines public and societal actors that shape Russia’s EU policy. First, it demonstrates the multiplicity of actors and their relative power. It examines the relative influence of the president (assisted by the Security Council and the Presidential Executive Office), of the government (including the prime minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence and intelligence community), of the Federal Assembly and the judicial branch. The chapter also reviews the influence of societal players, such as political parties, business, NGOs, academia and epistemic communities. Second, the chapter reveals changes in the relationship among actors. It is argued that the crisis in EU–Russian relations that erupted in 2014 decreased the diversity of Russian actors. Most transgovernmental and transnational contacts were suspended while society consolidated around the Kremlin. Russia, therefore, returned to the historical pattern whereby its foreign policy is left to the top official (president) and other actors are marginalised. Finally, Russian actors are juxtaposed with EU–Russian institutions to demonstrate that today’s structure of decision-making in Russia limits its interaction with the EU. A bolstering of the liberal economic block and the reconstruction of transgovernmental and transnational relations are essential to rebuild trust in this relationship.