Introduction: Russia, European Union and the neighbourhood – politics and practices

Abstract

This brief introduction to the special issue of Debater a Europa is dedicated to the study of the European Union’s external relations towards the East, focusing on the Russian Federation and the Eastern Partnership. The article contextualizes and maps the topic following the contributions this special issue brings together. In a first moment, the articles contribute to the analysis of the post-Cold War international order and how different understandings about this order assist in shedding light over dynamics of cooperation and rivalry. In a second moment, the contributions analyse case studies that illustrate these dynamics with a focus on the Eastern Partnership, namely the contributions on Ukraine and the South Caucasus, as well as the article on the three EU Baltic countries.