The Ukraine Crisis and Russia's Attitude towards the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europa

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Theory and Background Perspectives
• 2.1 Neoclassical Realism
• 2.2 Collective Security and the structure of the OSCE
• 2.3 Collective Security and the success of the OSCE
• 2.4 The crisis of the OSCE and the decisive role of Russia in it
• 3. Context: Background of the Russia-OSCE relationship: The stages of the Kremlin's OSCE policy
• 4. Methodology
• 5. Limitations
• 6. Case Study Analysis: Through the lens of Neoclassical Realism
• 6.1 Power considerations as a driver of Russia's foreign policy
• 6.2 How the Kremlin's interests in the crisis shaped its attitude towards the OSCE
• 6.3 The perception of the OSCE during the crisis and the Russian ‘shock’
• 7. Further Implications
• 8. Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This dissertation aims to explain Russia's attitude towards the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during the Ukraine crisis. It specifically investigates Russia's actions and motivations from 2013 to 2016, arguing that Russia's approach to the OSCE remained consistent throughout the crisis.

• Russia's foreign policy objectives and interests in the context of the Ukraine crisis
• The role of the OSCE as a platform for dialogue and crisis management
• The impact of the Ukraine crisis on Russian-Western relations
• The interplay of power considerations and international norms in shaping Russia's behavior
• The perception of the OSCE by Russia in the context of the crisis

Chapter Summaries

• Chapter 1: Introduces the research question and provides background information on the Ukraine crisis and its impact on European security. It highlights the significance of the OSCE in the context of the crisis and discusses the research methodology employed in the dissertation.
• Chapter 2: Establishes the theoretical framework for the study by examining the concept of Neoclassical Realism and its application to understanding Russia's foreign policy. It explores the role of the OSCE in collective security and analyzes the challenges and limitations faced by the organization.
• Chapter 3: Provides historical context by analyzing the evolution of Russia's OSCE policy, highlighting key milestones and the Kremlin's strategic considerations in its interactions with the organization.
• Chapter 4: Discusses the research methodology used to analyze Russia's attitude towards the OSCE during the Ukraine crisis. It outlines the sources of data, the analytical framework employed, and the limitations of the research.
• Chapter 5: Examines the core tenets of Neoclassical Realism and how they inform Russia's foreign policy decisions, focusing on the role of power considerations and the perception of threat in shaping Russia's behavior.
• Chapter 6: Analyzes Russia's actions and statements regarding the OSCE during the Ukraine crisis, investigating how the Kremlin's interests and objectives shaped its approach to the organization. It examines Russia's strategic calculations in utilizing the OSCE for its own purposes.
• Chapter 7: Delves into the perception of the OSCE by Russia in the context of the Ukraine crisis, exploring Russia's strategic calculations in utilizing the OSCE for its own purposes. It examines Russia's strategic calculations in utilizing the OSCE for its own purposes.

Keywords

This dissertation focuses on the intersection of Russian foreign policy, the Ukraine crisis, and the OSCE, specifically exploring the role of Neoclassical Realism, collective security, power considerations, and international norms. Key terms include: Ukraine crisis, Russia, OSCE, Neoclassical Realism, power politics, international order, crisis management, and security architecture.