jPJ. Case study

J.l. Here is an abstract from the article “Dark Skies to the East” published in “The Economist” on February 21st, 2004. Read the abstract and do the tasks.

Dark Skies to the East

Can Russia, after centuries of autocracy and imperialism, be turned into a sort of nice democratic country that gets along easily with its European neighbours? The answer seems to be: not for a while yet, to judge from a policy paper released by the European Commission, which suggests that relations between the Union and Russia are close to a post-Soviet low.

The Commission calls for “discussing Russian practices that run counter to universal and European values.” It says Russia has problems with democracy, human rights and press freedom. It points to rows over the environment, trade, border regimes and technical co-operation. It says aid to Russia has had “at best mixed” results: and it chides Russia for “assertive” behaviour towards neighbours.

The EU will embrace ten countries in all, seven of which were subjects or satellites of the Soviet Union. As these countries impose tight EU visa rules and close their markets to Russian goods Russia has been jolted into realizing that EU enlargement will effect it much more in practical terms than the eastward advance by the NATO.

So Russia has redirected its diplomatic firepower. It wants to renegotiate its “partnership and co-operation agreement” with the EU. It has put forward a list of 14 big items — from trade concessions to visa-free travel — that it wants brought into the negotiations.

J.2. Write down the Pros and Cons of the joining the EU.

J.3. Make an interview of a western journalist with the Russian government official about the perspectives of the “joined Europe.”

J.4. Think of and discuss the mutual claims of Russian and the European Union and their possible relationships.