Vitaly Yermakov discusses Russia’s Arctic strategy and the Northern Sea Route in a podcast with the The Straits Times (11.02.2022)
Key points:
1. Russia considers the NSR a strategic economic priority since it is instrumental for suppling Russian northern territories. Its importance has grown in the past few years with the expansion of Russia’s oil and gas projects in the Arctic. The NSR allows to monetize vast oil and gas resources located near the coastline and transport them economically to target markets.
2. The realistic possibilities for the NSR to develop into a major trade artery to Asia. The NSR is an Arctic shortcut that saves time and reduces transportation costs on a route between Europe and Asia. But it is necessary to take into account that navigation in Arctic seas is still difficult and it could cause significant risks for ships. Russia is trying to increase its Arctic capabilities by building a new generation of powerful nuclear icebreakers and Arctic class ice-resistant tankers. Initially, Russian exports of oil, condensate, and LNG are going to represent the lion’s share of the transportation turnover via the NSR. When year-round navigation via the NSR becomes a reality, international transit might increase as well.
3. The NSR and its geopolitical implications. In a world of increasing global rivalries, Russia’s control over a major trade route connecting Europe and Asia is an asset. Unlike other marine routes to Asia that could be controlled by the US Navy, the NSR emerges as an important factor in the Russia-China relationship.
A. S. Pyatachkova commented to Bloomberg on the upcoming meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping (03.02.2022)
Deputy Head of the CCEIS Asia-Pacific Sector A. S. Pyatachkova commented in Bloomberg on the state of Russian-Chinese relations on the eve of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Key points:
- Cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is a strategic challenge for the Joe Biden administration;
-The aggravation of relations with the West encourages Russia to speed up cooperation with China, especially in the technological sphere, which is subject to sanctions pressure;
-Too much emphasis on economic relations with China could risk relegating Russia to the status of an energy and raw materials supplier to a much stronger partner;
-The imbalance of economic power could cause difficulties in bilateral relations if China refuses to perceive Russia as a partner with a special status and tries to put pressure on it.
Egor Prokhin presented a report at the International Conference "E-Education, E-business, E-Management, E-Learning" in Japan.
Egor Prokhin, a research fellow of the CCEIS, presented a report titled “The role of technological platforms in the innovative development of Industrial enterprises" on January 17, at the 13th international conference "E-Education, E-business, E-Management, E-Learning", held at Waseda University in Tokyo.
Within the report’s framework, the results of the analysis of the experience of the main trends in the innovative development of industry in the Asia-Pacific countries were presented, and the economic and managerial effectiveness of new development models was assessed.
«Pandemic Diplomacy: China’s Role in Central Asia in the Era of Covid-19» –Miras Zhiyenbayev for the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.
Miras Zhiyenbayev, CCEIS Fellow, wrote an article on aspects of Chinese pandemic diplomacy and competition between Russia and China for influence in Central Asia for the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs. Key ideas:
- The global pandemic has exacerbated the economic and political problems of the Central Asia states. The situation in Central Asia provides opportunities for both China and Russia to consolidate their influence over the foreign and domestic policies of Central Asian countries.
- The economic strength of China provides the opportunity for China to use investments of private Chinese firms to establish cooperation with Central Asian governments through international organizations such as the SCO.
- Another opportunity afforded to China is the shift towards internal aspects of the national security caused by the pandemic. Some Central Asian governments are interested in Chinese surveillance technologies. The CA countries will have to continue to buy from China, without the ability to control their own technologies and develop their own rules.
- While the prospects of the economic dependence of CA countries from China are becoming ever more real, the existing cultural tensions will be the source of social instability. Russia still exerts huge amount of “soft power”, which allows to Russian government to use media to denigrate China’s activities in the region.
HSE University, Harvard University, and other partner organizations have completed the Second Boot Camp of the Arms Control Negotiation Academy (ACONA)
Lev Sokolshchik, an Associate Professor of the School of International Regional Studies, and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS) took part in the second ACONA Boot Camp (January 10-14, 2022) as a member of the organizing team and a supervisor of the international research group focused on the prospects for concluding a new arms control treaty. The activities at the camp included a series of presentations of the scientific projects' results of the ACONA fellows, discussions with the world’s leading experts in the fields of international relations and arms control, master classes, and exercises to develop negotiation skills.
“Russia Issues Subtle Threats More Far-Reaching Than a Ukraine Invasion” – Dmitriy Suslov about Ukrainian problem
Associate Director of Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies Dmitriy Suslov expressed his opinion on tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in an article for the New York Times magazine. Basic ideas:
-A hypothetical Russian invasion of Ukraine would not undermine the security of the United States
-The overall logic of Russian actions is that it is the U.S. and NATO that must pay a high price
-Beyond a more threatening Russian military posture, the United States would be particularly sensitive to closer military cooperation between Russia and China.
-The United States does not want to increase its military presence in Europe, as this would be done at the cost of containing China
"Asia and Eurasia in a Multipolar World" - an article by T. Bordachev for the Valdai Discussion Club
Main ideas:
- The purpose of the alliance between China and Russia is national development and ensuring the security of the countries
- Regional cooperation institutions will retain their importance for Russia
- The main challenge for the Russian Federation is the transformation of neighboring countries into a territorial military base of global powers
- Russian policy in Eurasia is aimed at building relations with the medium and small states.
Egor Prokhin is a winner of the “Leaders of Russia”!
Egor Prokhin, a postdoc at the Faculty of World Economics and World Politics, and a research fellow at the CCEIS, became the winner of the regional finals of the “Leaders of Russia” national management contest on the track “Business and Industry” in the Central Federal District, the flagship project of the presidential platform “Russia - the Country of Opportunities”.
Russian-American relations during the administration of J. Biden: "detente" or a new "cold war"
On December 21, 2021, the School of International Regional Studies of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE Universityorganized a meeting with Dr. Lev Sokolshchik, Associate Professor of the School of International Regional Studies of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE Universityas part of a series of online seminars "Contemporary Area Studies".
We are recruiting new interns!
The CCEIS invites senior students, undergraduates, and graduate students to apply for an internship at the CCEIS. The program will be interesting for students of international relations, world economy, area and oriental studies, law, history. Interns will participate in applied projects and in the development of new fundamental research.