What Modernisation? The Case of Russian Partnerships for Modernisation with the European Union and Its Member States

Abstract

The article examines how the concept of modernisation manifests itself in partnerships for modernisation (Ps4M) between Russia, on the one hand, and the EU and 24 of its member states, on the other hand. It first identifies the conventional difference between the Russian economic interpretation of modernisation and the EU one based on political values. The article then demonstrates the ambiguity of the modernisation concept that EU member states promote to Russia, making it an empty signifier. To illustrate the difference among EU member states, the article makes use of discourse analysis to first design a scale of Russia's attitude to various political aspects of modernisation and to then posit member states on this scale on the basis of what they inserted in their Ps4M with Russia. It is argued that Russia in its dialogue with the EU faces ambiguity of the concept, which it is supposed to adopt. Furthermore, a new classification of EU member states emerges, based on the extent to which they are ready to defend political modernisation (and ultimately the EU's normative power) in their relations with Russia.