... live in the East and South of the country are automatically excluded from this nation criteria. The nationalizing states usually became the sphere of interest of quasi-empires.
Society without a State
After 2014 we also can see the marginal area of Donbasss, on which some unique social and political processes are developing, described by James Scott
6
. These societies try to escape hierarchy of any kind. Based on cultural flexibility, pragmatism and self-reliance of autonomous communities. Once ...
... capital, legal enforcement of contracts, governmental and regulatory transparency, and rules that promote and safeguard foreign direct investment. The environment presents yet another challenge, but also another opportunity for multilateral cooperation in Donbass with the European Union taking upon a leadership role.
At the same time, the European Union should move in the direction of a free trade agreement with Russia and other members of the Eurasian Economic Union. A new Ostpolitik by Ursula von der Leyen could help ...
... working within the pro-Western paradigm and lead the country towards collaboration with international financial bodies, the European Union and NATO. Russia–Ukraine relations will largely depend on the general trends in U.S.–Russia relations, and ... ... Many of his statements are contradictory. For instance, on the one hand, he spoke about his desire to stop the bloodshed in Donbass, restore the infrastructure destroyed during his predecessor’s tenure and hold talks with the Russian president. On ...
... meddling in the domestic affairs of European states. Russian support for “Eurosceptics” and right-wing populists in the European Union peters out.
Russia succeeds in shifting the major responsibility for non-compliance with the Minsk agreements onto ... ... matters both economic and political (including foreign policy).
Naturally, in this scenario, Ukraine fails to “bring back” Donbass; on the contrary, Donbass, which is not controlled by Kiev, will become an example for other regions demanding broader ...
... which could determine the direction of its foreign policy.
Relations with the West are a priority. The United States and the European Union this year will increase pressure on Russia via sanctions, military deterrence and information warfare. Russia will ... ... relationship with Russia more predictable, if not more friendly. With that in mind, Russia could take steps to promote peace in the Donbass via the United Nations peacekeeping operation, for example.
Andrey Kortunov:
Will Donbass Live to See the UN Peacekeepers?...
... year, but in 2012 froze at 0.3%
[3]
. The situation in the country has become critical, and the beginning of military operations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions coupled with Crimea’s reunification with Russia only exacerbated it.
Crimea and Donbass: The price paid
In purely economic terms, the impact of Crimea’s secession from Ukraine has been relatively insignificant, and is estimated at about 3.8% of total GDP
[4]
. The region was not known for having a high standard of living, ...
