IMI-Studie 2016/02 - in: Information on Politics and Society No. 11/2016
Expansion – Association – Confrontation
EUrope‘s Neighbourhood Policy, the Ukraine and the New Cold War Against Russia
von: Jürgen Wagner | Veröffentlicht am: 10. März 2016
This study is the (slightly updated) translation of the German language broschure „Expansion – Assoziation – Konfrontation
It describes the western interests and responsibility for the crisis in the Ukraine but also for the downward spiral in the relationship between Russia and the West.
It can be downloaded here: https://www.imi-online.de/download/Ukraine_EN_Web.pdf
It can also be ordered in print (free of charge) here: hannover@sabine-loesing.de
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword – 4
Introduction – 5
1. The Ukraine and the Cold War 2.0 – 7
1.1 Hegemonic Policy and NATO Expansion – 7
1.2 Russia‘s Roll-Back – 8
1.3 European Union vs. Eurasian Union – 9
1.4 Ukraine: A Geopolitical Prize Piece – 10
1.5 Geostrategy by Means of Association: Brussels or Moscow? – 11
2 The Ukraine in the Sights of EUropean Ambitions and Strategies – 14
2.1 EUrope as a World Power – 14
2.2 Imperial Greater EUrope and How To Secure It by Military Means – 15
2.3 Expansion, Phase I: the EU‘s Eastern Enlargement – 17
2.4 Expansion, Phase II: EUrope‘s Imperial Neighbourhood Policy – 18
2.5 Neoliberal Association Agreement: The Ukraine as a Typical Example – 19
3 The Ukraine as a Test Case for Germany‘s Emerging Ambitions – 23
3.1 New Power – New Responsibility – 23
3.2 Subversion and Regime Change „Made in Germany“ – 25
3.3 Tensions Within the Western Camp and German Interests – 27
4 The Ukraine in a War on Multiple Fronts – 31
4.1 From Protest to Coup – 31
4.2 Consensus on Western Integration – While Power Struggle Continues – 32
4.3 The Spiral of Escalation and the Role of External Great Powers – 34
4.4 Replacement of Oligarchs, Exploitation and Repression – 36
4.5 The Can of Worms Stays Open: Wear and Tear in the „Pro-Western“ Camp – 37
5 Cold War: A Self-Fullfilling Prophecy? – 41
5.1 The West to be Extended right up to Russia‘s Doorstep? – 41
5.2 Playing with Fire – NATO Mobilisation and War Games – 43
5.3 „A Hazardous Game in Full View of a Catastrophe“ – 44
5.4 Germany as a „Swing State“? – 45
5.5 State Capitalism vs. Neoliberalism – 48
5.6 A Chinese-Russian Alliance? – 51
6 Will the Ice Age become Permafrost? – 54