O. V. Bakhlova, A. N. Slugina. Interregional Cooperation and Integration within the Framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia: Specifics of Integration and Information Support

UDК 323.2 http://regionsar.ru

DOI: 10.15507/2413-1407.118.030.202201.010-030

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the need to ensure a synergetic effect within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, to create its positive image as an integration association in internal and external dimensions. The purpose of the study is to identify the specifics of cooperation between the regions of Russia and Belarus in the context of integration priorities of both countries.

Materials and Methods. The research was based on the traditional study of documents, content analysis, comparative and multilevel analysis. The most important materials are official documents of Russia and Belarus, publications in the media, expert survey data, statistical information on the dynamics of interregional relations in the Union State. All of them together made it possible to concretize the signs of multifaceted communications in the field under consideration, to identify possible ways to improve the integration policy of the member states of the Union State in the face of escalated challenges and threats.

Results. The peculiarities of the approaches of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus to the interpretation of interregional cooperation and integration in the format of the Union State are shown. The positions of the border regions are characterized. The content and orientation of media publications of different levels are analyzed, certain vulnerabilities are highlighted. Insufficient degree of interrelation of strategic orientations of integration and interregional interaction is found. The lack of manifestation of conflicting motives is offset by distancing from substantive coverage and discussion of topical issues, including by regional and local communities.

Discussion and Conclusion. The performed research shows that the tasks of information support of the Union State, organization of “demand for integration”, training of personnel for “integration marketing” at the level of the regions of the two countries and expansion of their communication channels are unsolved. The recommendations made as a result are intended for representatives of state authorities and local self-government bodies and are aimed at improving the current situation through more effective use of existing advantages and mechanisms and the formation of new ones that meet the needs of integrating states and their regions.

Keywords: integration, interregional cooperation, political decisions, political elites, cross-border cooperation, region, Russian-Belarusian relations, Union State of Belarus and Russia

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding. The reported study was funded by RFBR and EISR, project number 21-011-31086 “Challenges and Opportunities for the Union State of Belarus and Russia: Internal and External Dimensions”.

For citation: Bakhlova O.V., Slugina A.N. Interregional Cooperation and Integration within the Framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia: Specifics of Integration and Information Support. Regionology = Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2022; 30(1):10-30. doi: https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.118.030.202201.010-030

REFERENCES

1. Zonova T.V. From the Europe of States to a Europe of Regions. Polis. Politicheskie issledovaniya = Polis. Political Studies. 1999; (5):155-164. Available at: https://www.politstudies.ru/article/2644 (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ.)

2. Kuznetsov A.V. Kuznetsova О.V. The Сhanging Role of Border Regions in the Regional Policies of the EU and Russia. Baltijskij region = Baltic Region. 2019; 11(4):58-75. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.5922/2079-8555-2019-4-4

3. Astakhova S.V. Belarus and Russia: 20 Years of Integration. Rossiya i novye gosudarstva Evrazii = Russia and New States of Eurasia. 2020; (1):53-69. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.20542/2073-4786-2020-1-53-69

4. Borishpolets K.P. The Union State of Russia and Belarus: Equal Rights for Citizens – The Solved and Demanding Questions. Mezhdunarodnaya analitika = Journal of International Analytics. 2018; (4):7-16. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.46272/2587-8476-2018-0-4-7-16

5. Kurakina S.I., Barshova O.A. On the Occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus: Results, Problems and Prospects. Vestnik Permskogo universiteta. Yuridicheskie nauki = Perm University Herald. Juridical Sciences. 2020; (47):137-159. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.17072/1995-4190-2020-47-137-159

6. Deyermond R. The State of the Union: Military Success, Economic and Political Failure in the Russia-Belarus Union. Europe Asia Studies. 2004; 56(8):1191-1205. (In Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1465342042000308910

7. Marin A. The Union State of Belarus and Russia. Myths and Realities of Political-Military Integration. Vilnius; 2020. Available at: https://vilniusinstitute.lt/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Anais-Marin-Union-State-of-Belarus-and-Russia.pdf (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Eng.)

8. Marples D. Is the Russia-Belarus Union Obsolete? Problems of Post-Communism. 2008; 55(1):25-35. (In Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.2753/PPC1075-8216550103

9. Newnham R. Russia and Belarus: Economic Linkage in a Patron-Client Relationship. Journal of Belarusian Studies. 2020; 9(1):3-26. (In Eng.) https://doi.org/10.30965/20526512-12340002

10. Kizima S.A. The Strategy of Belarus in the Context of Global Actors Policy. Upravlencheskoe konsultirovanie = Administrative Consulting. 2017; (1):24-28. Available at: https://www.acjournal.ru/jour/article/view/485 (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

11. Astapenia R., Balkunets D. Belarus-Russia Relations after the Ukraine Conflict. Analytical Paper. 2016; 5. Available at: https://belarusdigest.com/papers/belarus-russia-relations.pdf (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Eng.)

12. Posokhin I. Soft Belarusization: (Re)building of Identity or “Border Reinforcement”. Colloquia Humanistica. 2019; 8:58-78. (In Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.11649/ch.2019.005

13. Laletina A.S. Interregional Cooperation of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. Probely v rossijskom zakonodatelstve = Gaps in Russian Legislation. 2018; (1):131-134. Available at: https://www.urvak.ru/articles/probe-vypusk-1-mezhregionalnoe-sotrudnichestvo-res/ (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

14. Katrovskiy A.P., Ridevskiy G.V. Agriculture of the Russia-Belarus Border Areas: Development Trends and Transformation of Industrial and Territorial Structure. Regionalnye issledovaniya = Regional Studies. 2017; (4):105-115. Available at: http://media.geogr.msu.ru/RI/RI_2017_04(58).pdf (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

15. Lavrova E.V. Russian-Belarusian Borderland: The Problems and Prospects of Socio-Economic Development. Nauchnyj vestnik Volgogradskogo filiala RANHIGS. Seriya: Ekonomika = Scientific Bulletin of the Volgograd Branch of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Series: Economy. 2016; (4):95-98. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=35128776 (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

16. Abramov R.A., Strelchenko S.G., Khalatenkova E.Yu. Transregional Cooperation as a Factor to Strengthen Interstate Relations in the Union State. Region: Ekonomika i Sociologiya = Region: Economics and Sociology. 2017; (1):253-270. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.15372/REG20170112

17. Litviniuk A.I. Transboundary Cooperation in the Context of Integration Processes of the Republic of Belarus. Gumanitarnye problemy voennogo dela = Humanitarian Problems of Military Affairs. 2018; (2):61-66. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=35727022 (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

18. Kogut V.G., Nuryshev G.N. Forums of the Regions of Belarus and Russia – the Foundation of the Union Construction. Upravlencheskoe konsultirovanie = Administrative Consulting. 2020; (1):27-34. Available at: https://www.acjournal.ru/jour/article/view/1304/1169 (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

19. Sapryka V.A. Foresight of Development of Border and Interregional Cooperation Regions of the Union Government of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. Srednerusskij vestnik obshchestvennyh nauk = Central Russian Journal of Social Sciences. 2016; 11(6):405-410. Available at: https://orel.dev.ranepa.ru/upload/iblock/dc5/SaprykaVA.pdf (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

20. Ogneva N.F. Trends in Cross-Border Cooperation Between Russian and Belarusian Regions. Vestnik Baltijskogo federalnogo universiteta im. I. Kanta. Seriya: Gumanitarnye i obshchestvennye nauki = Vestnik IKBFU. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2017; (1):86-91. Available at: https://journals.kantiana.ru/upload/iblock/6df/Огнева_86-91.pdf (accessed 05.06.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

21. Tyurikova А.I., Khazipova S.R., Suvorkov P.E. Mutual Relations of Pskov Region with Foreign Countries: Sociological Poll Results in the Region. Pskovskij regionologicheskij zhurnal = Pskov Journal of Regional Studies. 2020; (3):16-28. (In Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.37490/S221979310010392-4

Submitted 07.06.2021; approved after reviewing 17.08.2021; accepted for publication 27.08.2021.

About the authors:

Olga V. Bakhlova, Professor, Department of World History, Political Science and Regional Studies, National Research Mordovia State University (68/1 Bolchevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), Dr. Sci. (Political Science), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3849-8321, olga.bahlova@mail.ru

Anastasiya N. Slugina, Researcher, Scientific and Educational Center “Political Analysis of Territorial Systems”, National Research Mordovia State University (68/1 Bolchevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), Master of Regional Studies of Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8250-272X, gorskaya_nastya@mail.ru

Contribution of the authors:

O. V. Bakhlova – studying of the concept; critical analysis of the materials; critical analysis and revision of the text of the article.

A. N. Slugina – collection, processing and analysis of information; writing the initial version of the text of the article; studying of the concept.

The authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

To download article