Private interests, public policy: Ukraine and the common economic space agreement

Problems of Post-Communism

Volumn 51, Issue 5, 2004, Pages 11-22

  Bukkvoll, Tor ^a  

^a NORWEGIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT FFI   (Norway)

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EID: 4644324571     PISSN: 10758216     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/10758216.2004.11052181     Document Type: Review

References (69)

1. The term "oligarch" as used here designates an individual with a strong position in domestic business who is also heavily involved in Ukraine's political life.
2. Vladimir Lupatsii and Tatiana Grebneva, "Rasshcheplenie vlasti" (The Split of Power), Kompanien, no. 42 (October 28-November 1, 2002). For similar interpretations, see Rosaria Puglisi, "Clashing Agendas? Economic Interests, Elite Coalitions, and Prospects for Cooperation Between Russia and Ukraine," Europe-Asia Studies 55, no. 6 (November 2003): 827-45; Aleksandr Dergachev, "Tiazhkii krest istoricheskoi druzhby" (The Heavy Cross of Historical Friendship), Zerkalo nedely, no. 44 (November 15-21, 2003).
3. Vladimir Lupatsii and Tatiana Grebneva, "Rasshcheplenie vlasti" (The Split of Power), Kompanien, no. 42 (October 28-November 1, 2002). For similar interpretations, see Rosaria Puglisi, "Clashing Agendas? Economic Interests, Elite Coalitions, and Prospects for Cooperation Between Russia and Ukraine," Europe-Asia Studies 55, no. 6 (November 2003): 827-45; Aleksandr Dergachev, "Tiazhkii krest istoricheskoi druzhby" (The Heavy Cross of Historical Friendship), Zerkalo nedely, no. 44 (November 15-21, 2003).
4. Vladimir Lupatsii and Tatiana Grebneva, "Rasshcheplenie vlasti" (The Split of Power), Kompanien, no. 42 (October 28-November 1, 2002). For similar interpretations, see Rosaria Puglisi, "Clashing Agendas? Economic Interests, Elite Coalitions, and Prospects for Cooperation Between Russia and Ukraine," Europe-Asia Studies 55, no. 6 (November 2003): 827-45; Aleksandr Dergachev, "Tiazhkii krest istoricheskoi druzhby" (The Heavy Cross of Historical Friendship), Zerkalo nedely, no. 44 (November 15-21, 2003).
5. According to Alexander Wendt, "Pluralists attempt to reduce the state to interest groups and individuals in society," and Richard Little says that pluralists "undermine the conception of the national interest which provides the starting point for most realist analysis. The American pluralists argued that the idea of the national interest did no more than serve as a useful tool for propaganda." Alexander Wendt, Social Theory of International Politics (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999), p. 200; Richard Little, "The Growing Relevance of Pluralism?" in International Theory: Positivism & Beyond, ed. Steve Smith, Ken Booth, and Marysia Zalewski (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996), p. 71.
6. According to Alexander Wendt, "Pluralists attempt to reduce the state to interest groups and individuals in society," and Richard Little says that pluralists "undermine the conception of the national interest which provides the starting point for most realist analysis. The American pluralists argued that the idea of the national interest did no more than serve as a useful tool for propaganda." Alexander Wendt, Social Theory of International Politics (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999), p. 200; Richard Little, "The Growing Relevance of Pluralism?" in International Theory: Positivism & Beyond, ed. Steve Smith, Ken Booth, and Marysia Zalewski (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996), p. 71.
7. Jeremy Bransten, "CIS: Common Economic Space May Yet Run Aground," RFE/RL Feature (September 24, 2003). The CES documents refer to five major areas of economic integration: a free-trade zone, a customs union, coordination of foreign economic policies, unified entry into the World Trade Organization, and the establishment of a supra-national political organ to implement the first four. Decisions by this latter institution will be compulsory for the member states, and the division of votes within the institution will be distributed according to the size of each country's GDP. This means that Russia will have a majority of the votes. The implementation of all these points is planned to take from five to seven years after the parliaments of all the member states have ratified the agreement. The agreement explicitly states that the member states may implement the five different areas of integration at different speeds. The latter point was a concession to Ukraine.
8. This is an allusion to the expansion of the Russian empire that began in the sixteenth century.
9. In 1654, Bohdan Khmelnitsky, leader of the then-semi-independent Ukrainian Cossacks, signed an agreement whereby the Cossacks would submit "to the tsar's hand" but continue to enjoy the autonomy, rights, and privileges that they had previously enjoyed under Polish rule. This agreement marked the beginning of Russian control of much of the region where Ukrainian was spoken. On Buteiko's resignation, see Evgenia Poliakova, "Nakanune EEP: Kuchma protiv diplomatov" (The Day Before the CES: Kuchma Against the Diplomats), Ukrainska pravda (September 17, 2003).
10. Dergachev, "Tiazhkii krest."
11. The Eurasian Economic Union consists of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The agreement on which this organization is based is similar to the one for the CES.
12. See Igor Guzhva, "Proekt chetyrekh prezidentov" (The Project of Four Presidents), Ekspert (March 3, 2003); Aleksandr Bekker and Oleg Gavrish, "Siurpriz iz Kyiva" (The Surprise from Kyiv), Vedomosti (September 11, 2003).
13. See Igor Guzhva, "Proekt chetyrekh prezidentov" (The Project of Four Presidents), Ekspert (March 3, 2003); Aleksandr Bekker and Oleg Gavrish, "Siurpriz iz Kyiva" (The Surprise from Kyiv), Vedomosti (September 11, 2003).
14. On Azarov's unquestioning loyalty, see Iurii Tymchuk, "Peremennaia konstanta" (The Changing Constant], Kontext (November 10, 2003) (available at www.context-ua.com/print/politperson/39203.html).
15. Quoted in interview with Inna Bogoslavska in Zerkalo nedely, no. 3 (January 24-30, 2004).
16. Tatiana Silina, "Bespridannitsa - v polskuiu Krinitsu-Gurskuiu president ne edet. Emu tarn nechego skaztat" (Girl Without Dowry-The President Is Not Going to the Polish Town of Krinitsa-Gurska. He Has Nothing to Say There), Zerkalo nedely, no. 33 (August 30-September 5, 2003).
17. Sergei Solodkii and Natalia Trofimova, "Ukraina - ne Rossiia" (Ukraine Is Not Russia), Den (September 13, 2003).
18. Tatiana Silina, "Kak zakalialas stal" (How the Steel Was Tempered), Zerkalo nedely, no. 35 (September 13-19, 2003).
19. Interfax-Ukraine (October 23, 2003).
20. See Forum (November 29, 2003) (http://ukr.for-ua.com/news/2003/ 11/29/162951.html).
21. According to Julia Mostovaia of Zerkalo nedely, Moscow has informed Kuchma that it is not going to support a third term for him. See Julia Mostovaia, "Chuzhoi i eshche chuzhee" (Strange and Even Stranger), Zerkalo nedely (February 7-13, 2004).
22. Anders Åslund, "Left Behind: Ukraine's Uncertain Transformation," National Interest 14 (fall 2003): 109.
23. Interview with Dergachev in Kompanien, no. 45 (November 7-13, 2003).
24. The Ukrainian business clans should not be seen as tightly knit unitary organizations. They are clusters of businessmen, bureaucrats, and politicians who have certain common interests and an allegiance to one another. This does not mean that there is no competition or conflict among members of the same clan, but such conflicts coexist with a readiness to defend fellow clan member when they are in competition with members of other clans and to seek support first from within one's own clan.
25. For more on this, see the excellent article by Dmytro Vydrin, "Epokha Prezidenta Kuchmy (i nemnogo posle)" (The Epoch of President Kuchma-and a Little Bit Afterward), Zerkalo nedely, no. 37 (September 27-October 3, 2003).
26. Interview with Mikhail Brodskii in Kompanien (November 7, 2003).
27. For an illuminating discussion, see Sergei Rudenko, "Kadrovyi rozarii" (The Cadre Bouquet], Delovaia nedelia (January 22-28, 2004).
28. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Final Report on Parliamentary Elections in Ukraine, 31 March 2002 (www.osce.org/odhir/).
29. Interview with Rustern Zhangozha, Kontext (September 18, 2003).
30. Boris Gorlin, "Anatolii Chubais vystupil s predvybornoi rechiu" (Anatolii Chubais Made a Pre-Election Speech), Kommersant (September 26, 2003).
31. Interview with Vadim Gustov, Finansovii kontrol (June 25, 2003).
32. Tatiana Vysotskaia, "Igra v odni vorota" (Playing the Same Goal), Delovaia nedelia (January 22-28, 2004).
33. Interview with Sergei Maksimenko, leader of Kyiv's East-West Institute, Den (October 3, 2003).
34. Ruslan Ilichev, Mikhail Ignatiev, Natalia Babina, and Svetlana Ezhova "Gosudarstvo i ekonomika" (The State and the Economy), Biznes (September 15, 2003).
35. Vladimir Lupatsii, "Igra v dve ruki" (Playing with Two Hands), Kompanion (April 25, 2003).
36. See Vladimir Arev, "Ranshe dumai o rodine" (First Think of the Motherland), Zerkalo nedely, no. 38 (October 4-10, 2003).
37. Egor Sobolev, "Troechniki" (Weak Students), Zerkalo nedely, no. 35 (September 13-19, 2003).
38. Interview with Sergei Tyhypko in Zerkalo nedely, no. 36 (September 20-26, 2003).
39. Ermolaev quoted in Iurii Tymchuk, "Ukrainskaia biznes-elita raskololas v omoshenii EEP" (The Ukrainian Business Elite Is Divided over the CES Issue), Kontext (September 15, 2003).
40. Dergaehev, "Tiazhkii krest."
41. Bekker and Gavrish, "Siurpriz iz Kyiva."
42. Interview with Julia Mostovaia in Zerkalo nedely, no. 44 (November 15-21, 2003).
43. Mikhail Baranov and Nikolai Makeev, "Ukraina peretiagivaet u Rossii trubu" (Ukraine Is Pulling the Plug on Russia), Gazeta (November 19, 2003);
44. Mikhail Ignatiev, "Rossiiskii trubnii rynok: mnogo nas, a on odin," (The Russian Pipeline Market: There Are Many of Us, But It Is Alone), Neftegazovaia vertikal (November 7, 2003).
45. "K voprosu o motivatsii otritsatelnoi pozitsii po uchastiu Ukrainy v EEP" (On the Motivation for the Negative Stance on Ukrainian Membership in the CES], Ekspress-Inform Information Agency (October 1, 2003) (http://ei.com.ua).
46. On this point, see Tor Bukkvoll, "Defining a Ukrainian Foreign Policy Identity: Business Interests and Geopolitics in the Formulation of Ukrainian Foreign Policy 1994-1999," in Ukrainian Foreign and Security Policy-Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives, ed. Jennifer D.P. Moroney, Taras Kuzio, and Mikhail Molchanov (Westport, CT: Praeger, 2003), pp. 131-53.
47. For a detailed discussion of individuals' roles as motives for political action, see James N. Rosenau, Turbulence in World Politics (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990), pp. 210-42.
48. On this point, see the discussion by Adam Przeworski, States and Markets: A Primer in Political Economy (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003), pp. 85-88.
49. On Yanukovych being perceived as pro-Russian, see Taras Kuzio, "Moscow's Energy Strategy," Jane's Intelligence Digest (December 20, 2002).
50. Sergei Rakhmanin, "Razvod po-Donetskii" (Divorce Donetsk Style), Zerkalo nedely, no. 43 (November 8-14, 2003).
51. Sobolev, "Troechniki."
52. Dmitrii Dzhangirov, "Tretii srok kak ultima ratio" (Three Terms Maximum), Ponedelnik, no. 35 (October 13, 2003).
53. Silina, "Kak zakalialas stal."
54. Interview with Inna Bogoslovska in Den (November 29, 2003).
55. Danilo Pobut, "EEP: smert Ukraiiny, koma chy ii nove narodzhennia?" (CES: The Death of Ukraine, or Is It Her New Revival?), Ukrainska pravda (April 21, 2004).
56. See Tatiana Silina, "Souchastniki" (Accomplices], Zerkalo nedely, no. 16 (April 24-30, 2004); Irina Pogorelova, "Ekstsess ispolniteliei" (Exaggerations of the Executive], Ukrainska pravda (April 21, 2004); Aleksandr Mikhelson, "Kamo griadeshi, EEP?" (Whither Goes the CES?], Glavred (April 21, 2004) (www.glavred.info).
57. See Tatiana Silina, "Souchastniki" (Accomplices], Zerkalo nedely, no. 16 (April 24-30, 2004); Irina Pogorelova, "Ekstsess ispolniteliei" (Exaggerations of the Executive], Ukrainska pravda (April 21, 2004); Aleksandr Mikhelson, "Kamo griadeshi, EEP?" (Whither Goes the CES?], Glavred (April 21, 2004) (www.glavred.info).
58. See Tatiana Silina, "Souchastniki" (Accomplices], Zerkalo nedely, no. 16 (April 24-30, 2004); Irina Pogorelova, "Ekstsess ispolniteliei" (Exaggerations of the Executive], Ukrainska pravda (April 21, 2004); Aleksandr Mikhelson, "Kamo griadeshi, EEP?" (Whither Goes the CES?], Glavred (April 21, 2004) (www.glavred.info).
59. See "Ministr ekonomiki podal v otstavku" (The Minister of Economy Resigned), Zerkalo Nedely, no. 1 (January 10-16, 2004).
60. See Aleksandr Palii, "Vchera byl EEP" (Yesterday Was CES], Ukryinska pravda (September 22, 2003); Aleksei Kordun's comments to the Internet site Forum (September 10, 2003) (http://rus.for-ua.com/ print.php?u=comments/2003/09/10/145706.html); Dmytro Vydrin's comments to Lvivska hazeta (September 19, 2003).
61. See Aleksandr Palii, "Vchera byl EEP" (Yesterday Was CES], Ukryinska pravda (September 22, 2003); Aleksei Kordun's comments to the Internet site Forum (September 10, 2003) (http://rus.for-ua.com/ print.php?u=comments/2003/09/10/145706.html); Dmytro Vydrin's comments to Lvivska hazeta (September 19, 2003).
62. See Aleksandr Palii, "Vchera byl EEP" (Yesterday Was CES], Ukryinska pravda (September 22, 2003); Aleksei Kordun's comments to the Internet site Forum (September 10, 2003) (http://rus.for-ua.com/ print.php?u=comments/2003/09/10/145706.html); Dmytro Vydrin's comments to Lvivska hazeta (September 19, 2003).
63. See the figures for the SOTSI Gallup institute in Iurii Tymchuk, "Ukrainskaia biznes-elita raskololas v otnoshenii EEP" (Ukrainian Business Elite Is Divided over the CES Issue], Kontext (September 15, 2003), and the figures of the Razumkov Centre at www.uceps.com.ua/ukr/all/sociology/2003_02/35.gif.
64. Inis I. Claude, Jr., "Collective Legitimization as a Political Function of the United Nations," International Organization, no. 20 (1966): 368.
65. Tatiana Silina, in Zerkalo nedely, claims that a number of Ukrainian observers adhere to this interpretation. See Tatiana Silina, "EEPeiskii vybor" (The CES Choice), Zerkalo nedely, no. 36 (September 20-26, 2003).
66. Tatiana Silina, in Zerkalo nedely, claims that a number of Ukrainian observers adhere to this interpretation. See Tatiana Silina, "EEPeiskii vybor" (The CES Choice), Zerkalo nedely, no. 36 (September 20-26, 2003).
67. See especially the interview with Jan Marinus Virsma, one of the chairs of the Ukraine-EU Committee of Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, in Zerkalo nedely, no. 38 (October 4-10, 2003).
68. Anatolii Zlenko, Diplomatia i politika (Diplomacy and Politics) (Kharkiv: Folio, 2003), p. 527.
69. Ibid., p. 131.