Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

HIGHER SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

NATIONAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY

Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Department of International Affairs

Course Programme

“Russia in Asia-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities”

The course is designed by:

Prof. E.A.Kanaev

Moscow, 2013

Course description

The course aims to initiate an in-depth and comprehensive discussion on Russia’s policy in Asia-Pacific: its key priorities, trends and interim results along with issues and challenges it is currently encountering. The programme approaches the subject from an innovative perspective in order to encourage students’ conceptual thinking by means of an extensive and interactive training.

The course starts with analyzing Russia’s quest for a greater role in Asia-Pacific against the backdrop of prevailing global trends. Then it moves on to examine the trans-Pacific and Asia-Pacific vectors of Russia’s regional multilateral diplomacy. Issues under consideration also embrace Russia’s stance on the key regional security challenges and Russia’s economic and political relations with main regional actors – China, Japan, North and South Korea and ASEAN. The course concludes with offering the innovative project “Siberia” as a new conceptual framework for Russia’s Asia-Pacific strategy and assesses the most likely results the project – if implemented – will produce.

The Reading List given below each section is comprised of selected monographs, journal articles and on-line publications aimed to provide students with an in-depth, comprehensive and regularly updated analysis of issues under consideration. As time passes, the List is supplemented with new relevant materials.

The course also aims to make learning environments exciting, challenging and rewarding in order to strengthen the students’ innovative mindset and spark their innovative approaches to research and analyses. This will lead to generating breakthrough ideas during intensive and interactive discussions the course offers, and finally – to improving students’ learning capacities by mobilizing their intellectual and motivational resources.

The course runs in 3-4 modules. It is taught by Prof. Evgeny Kanaev, who writes extensively on key economic, political and security issues Asia-Pacific is currently encountering. Prof. E.Kanaev regularly participates in international projects organized by leading global think-tanks and universities, as well as Russian government agencies and international business forums. In 2011 and 2012, Prof. E.Kanaev was among the co-authors of the analytical reports on the key findings of the First and Second Asia-Pacific Forums which had been tasked to develop Russia’s strategy towards the APEC Summit in Vladivostok and later on assess its main results. In 2012, Prof. Kanaev was engaged in developing “Strategy of Trade and Investment Cooperation for Russia - ASEAN Dialogue Partnership”, commissioned at the request of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

In 2012-2013 academic year, in NRU Higher School of Economics Prof. E.Kanaev was honored “the Best Teacher” Award.

Expected Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will have:

· a comprehensive understanding of Russia’s priorities and policies in Asia-Pacific;

· in-depth knowledge of debates within Russia’s elite about how to best develop the Far East and Siberia;

· a conceptual approach to Asia-Pacific multilateral economic and security cooperation and responds to key challenges to regional security from Russia’s perspective;

· detailed knowledge of relations between Russia and its key Asia-Pacific partners;

· a thorough understanding of the project “Siberia” as an innovative conceptual framework for developing Far Eastern and Siberian territories.

· improved analytical and presentational skills.

Who Will Benefit by Attending This Course:

The course is strongly recommended for graduates who specialize in Asia-Pacific studies and prepare for work in:

· Government agencies and business circles;

· Think-tanks and universities;

· International organizations and forums;

· Mass-media;

· Other spheres where an in-depth political and economic analysis with relevance to Asia-Pacific is required.

Course structure

№ / Topic / Department / Course hours / Academic hours / Self-instruction
Lectures / Seminars / Practice
I. / Part I. Trends of Global Development and Russia’s Search for Influence in Asia-Pacific. / IA / 18 / 8 / 10
II. / Part II. Russia and Multilateral Cooperation: the Trans-Pacific and the East Asian Vector. / IA / 44 / 16 / 28
2.1. / The Trans-Pacific Dialogue Platforms in Russia’s Foreign Policy Priorities. / IA / 20 / 8 / 12
2.2 / The East Asian Dimension of Russia’s Multilateral Diplomacy / IA / 12 / 4 / 8
2.3. / Russian Multilateral Diplomacy in Asia-Pacific: Assessing the Role of Track II / IA / 12 / 4 / 8
III. / Part III. Regional Security Challenges and Responds to Them: Russia’s Perspective / IA / 74 / 28 / 46
3.1 / Russia and the North Korean Nuclear Issue. / IA / 20 / 8 / 12
3.2 / Russia and the Unification of the Korean Peninsula. / IA / 20 / 8 / 12
3.3 / Russia and maritime security in Asia-Pacific. / IA / 12 / 4 / 8
3.4. / Asia-Pacific Energy and Food Security: the Russian Connection / IA / 22 / 8 / 14
IV. / Part IV. Russia’s Relations with Main Asia-Pacific Actors / IA / 62 / 20 / 42
4.1. / Asia-Pacific Dimension of Russo-Chinese Relations: Issues, Solutions and Prospects / IA / 20 / 8 / 12
4.2. / Russia and Japan: Moving Beyond the Territorial Issue / IA / 14 / 4 / 10
4.3. / The Korean Peninsula in Current Russian Foreign Policy / IA / 14 / 4 / 10
4.4. / Russia and ASEAN: Trends, Issues, Tasks Ahead / IA / 14 / 4 / 10
V. / Developing an Innovative Approach: the Project “Siberia” / IA / 18 / 8 / 10
In sum: / 216 / 80 / 136

Course Content

Part I. Trends of global development: implications for Asia-Pacific and Russia’s search for influence there.

The Rise of Asia-Pacific in Global Politics and Economy: Main Drivers and Implications. Assessing the role of Asia-Pacific in global economic recovery. The rise of China and its implications for the region: a retrospect and prospects. Main drivers behind the US’ pivot to Asia-Pacific: a geopolitical perspective. Sino-American contradictions as a nexus of regional geopolitics and geo-economy. Assessing the maritime domain of Asia-Pacific economy and security: straights and sea lanes of communication. The global dimension of North Korean nuclear issue. Global governance: the role of Asia-Pacific.

A review of Russia’s key priorities in the Pacific. A need to expand an access to the external resources of the internal economic and social modernization: a guiding line of Russia’s foreign policy and the key indicator to what extent it has been successful. A coordination of prospective planning between Russia and its regional partners. An assessment of energy diplomacy the key instrument of Russia’s Asia-Pacific policy. The potential of Russia’s “smart power. An increased economic and security profile as an instrument for Russia to consolidate its positions at the global level.

A growing demand on Russia in the priorities of Asia-Pacific states: main reasons and manifestations. The discourse of connectivity: what Russia can offer the region. Expectations of our Pacific partners vs Russia’s possibilities: the Far East and Siberia connection.

The reading list

Required:

Putin V. An Asia-Pacific Growth Agenda. The Wall Street Journal. 6.09.2012. // http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390443847404577629312716242648

Lavrov S.V. 2013. Towards Peace, Stability And Sustainable Economic Development in the Asia Pacific Region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. 5 October. // http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/D19A0531B380362544257BFB00259B9E

Kahler M.2013. The Rise of Emerging Asia: Regional Peace and Global Security. Paterson Institute for International Economics and the Asian Development Bank Institute. Working Paper N.13-4. // http://www.iie.com/publications/wp/wp13-4.pdf

D’Costa A.P (ed). 2012. Globalization and Economic Nationalism in Asia. – Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Shujiro Urata, Hee Hahn Chin, Dionisius Narjoko (eds). 2012. Economic Consequences of Globalization: Evidence from East Asia. – N.Y.: Routledge.

Pierre J. 2013. Globalization and Governance. – Cheltenham/Massachusetts: Edward Elgar Publishing Inc.

Jensen D. 2013. Moscow Makes its Own Pivot to the Pacific. Institute of Modern Russia. 8 May. // http://imrussia.org/politics/454-moscow-makes-its-own-pivot-to-the-pacific

Sumsky V.V., Kanaev E.A., Koldunova E.V., Zavadsky M.S., Zinovyeva E.S., Iontsev V.A., Kireeva A.A., Likhachev V.L., Lukonin S.A., Menzhulin G.V., Novikov A.V., Prokhorova Yu.A., Sevastyanov S.V., Stapran N.V. Russia’s Guiding Landmarks in the Asia-Pacific after the APEC Summit in Vladivostok /Ed. by I.S. Ivanov. – М.: Spetskniga, 2013.

Sumsky V., Kanaev E., Koldunova E. Russia’s interests in the Context of Asia-Pacific Region Security and Development. / Ed.by I.S.Ivanov. – М.: Izdatel’stvo “Prospect”, 2012.

Panov A. 2013. Integration of Russia into the Asia-Pacific region (2013-2020 outlook). Russian International Affairs Council Analysis. 2 April. // http://russiancouncil.ru/en/inner/?id_4=1642#top

Hill F., Lo B. 2013. Putin's Pivot: Why Russia Is Looking East. Brookings. Foreign Affairs. 31. July. // http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2013/07/31-russia-china-pacific-pivot-hill

Barabanov O., Bordachev T. 2012. Toward the Great Ocean, or the New Globalization of Russia / Ed. by Karaganov S. – Valdai Discussion Club Analytical Report. –July.

Kuchins A., Zevelev I. 2012. Russian Foreign Policy: Continuity in Change. The Washington Quarterly. – Vol. 35. – N. 1. – P.147-161.

Morini D. 2012. Getting Pacific Russia Right. The Diplomat. 21 September. // http://thediplomat.com/the-editor/2012/09/21/getting-pacific-russia-right/

Recommended:

Agnew J. 2012. Is US Security Policy “Pivoting” from the Atlantic to Asia-Pacific? A Critical Geopolitical Perspective. Friedrich, Ebert and Stiftung Perspective. – September. // http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/global/09318.pdf

Tselichtchev I., Debroux P. 2009. Asia’s Turning Point. Singapore: John Wiley @Sons (Asia).

Mittleman J.H. 2011. Contesting Global Order: Development, Global Governance and Globalization. – Rouledge.

Boyer R., Uemura H., Isogai A. (eds.) 2012.Diversity and Transformations of Asian Capitalisms. – N.Y.: Routledge.

Kireeva A. 2012. Russia’s East Asia Policy: New Opportunities and Challenges. // Perceptions. – Vol. XVII. – N. 4. – P. 49-78.

Lukin A. 2012. Russia looks to the Pacific in 2012. East Asia Forum. 6 March. // http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/03/06/russia-looks-to-the-pacific-in-2012/

Trenin D. 2012. Russia Can Pivot to the Pacific, Too. The Globalist. 7 September. // http://www.theglobalist.com/russia-can-pivot-to-the-pacific-too/

Lee R. 2013. Russia’s Far East and Asia-Pacific Integration. Foreign Policy Research Institute Analysis. 25 October. // http://www.fpri.org/news/2013/10/russias-far-east-and-asia-pacific-integration

Kapila S. 2013. Russia’s Strategic Choices in the Asia Pacific. South Asia Analysis Group Paper N. 5561. // http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/node/1356

Salitski A. 2013. Russia in the Asia-Pacific Region: An Open Project. Strategic Culture. 9 October. // http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2013/10/09/russia-in-the-asia-pacific-region-an-open-project.html

Turner B., Khondke H. 2010. Globalization East and West. – New Delhi: Sage Publication.

Petri P. A. 2009. How Asia-Pacific Can Drive the Global Recovery. East-West Dialogue. – Issue 3. // http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/stored/pdfs/dialogue003.pdf

Part II. Russia and Multilateral Cooperation: the Trans-Pacific and the East Asian Vector.

2.1. The Trans-Pacific Dialogue Platforms in Russia’s Foreign Policy Priorities.

Russia and APEC: main reasons behind joining. Key proposals and outcomes: the transport and energy sectors, dialogue on non-ferrous metals. The Trans-Siberian Railway as a bridge between East Asia and Europe: an interim assessment. Russia and the Trans-Pacific Partnership: assessments and prospects. Russia’s participation in APEC before the Vladivostok Summit – 2012: trends, outcomes, interim results.

Russia as the host of APEC Summit in Vladivostok: expectation and preparations. Key projects: financial allocations feasibility in the short- and long-term perspective. The Vladivostok Summit agenda: main directions and their assessment. Cooperation in innovative sectors: Russia’s interpretation. Russian and Indonesian chairmanship in APEC (2012 and 2013): main points of convergence.

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Russia’s foreign policy priorities. Russia’s participation in ARF: the retrospect, current state, future prospects. Russia’s proposals and its partners’ reaction: an interim assessment. The South China Sea issue at ARF and Russia’s stance on its evolution. ARF as a self-sufficient direction of Russia’s Asia-Pacific policy and the driver of Russia-ASEAN relations. Assessing the influence of ARF in developing Russia-ASEAN relations: main issues and debates.

The reading list

Required:

Лавров С.В. 2012. Россия будет стабилизирующим фактором в АТР. МИД РФ. 27 января. // http://mid.ru/bdomp/ns-rasia.nsf/3a0108443c964002432569e7004199c0/c32577ca0017458644257992001f0cad!OpenDocument

Моргулов И.В. 2013. Выступление на заседании 27-го Азиатско-Тихоокеанского «круглого стола» по безопасности. Куала-Лумпур. МИД РФ. 6 июня. // http://mid.ru/bdomp/ns-rasia.nsf/3a0108443c964002432569e7004199c0/44257b100055e10444257b82003e03d0!OpenDocument

ASEAN Regional Forum. 2013. Speech of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the ministerial “retreat” of the 20th session of the ASEAN Regional Forum for security, Bandar Seri Begawan, 2 July. // http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/B3BACB4BA3CF6F1F44257B9E00503410

Simon S. 2013. The ASEAN Regional Forum: Beyond the Talk Shop? // NBR Analysis Brief. 11 July. // http://mercury.ethz.ch/serviceengine/Files/ISN/166937/ipublicationdocument_singledocument/a913b761-aeac-4749-94b5-2902209c3e2b/en/071113_Simon_ARF.pdf

Tay S. 2013. Growing an ASEAN Voice? : A Common Platform in Global and Regional Governance. // ERIA Discussion Paper Series. – September. // http://www.eria.org/ERIA-DP-2013-16.pdf

Kanaev E.A., Sumsky V.V., Koldunova E.V., Zavadsky M.S., Zinovyeva E.S., Iontsev V.A., Kireeva A.A., Likhachev V.L., Lukonin S.A., Menzhulin G.V., Novikov A.V., Prokhorova Yu.A., Sevastyanov S.V., Stapran N.V. 2013. Russia’s Guiding Landmarks in the Asia-Pacific after the APEC Summit in Vladivostok /Ed. by I.S. Ivanov. – М.: Spetskniga.

Kanaev E. 2012. Russia and APEC: Looking Back, Looking Forward. // Economic Research Institute of Northeast Asia (ERINA) Report. – N. 104. – P. 9-14.

Recommended:

Kanaev E., Sumsky V., Koldunova E. 2012. Russia’s interests in the Context of Asia-Pacific Region Security and Development. / Ed.by I.S.Ivanov. – М.: Izdatel’stvo “Prospect”.

Kanaev E. 2010. The Driver’s Seat Phenomenon.// International Affairs. Special Issue. Russia-ASEAN. – P. 29-36.

Drysdale P. 2012. Has Russia reinvented APEC as well as its Asia Pacific posture? East Asia Forum. 3 September. // http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/09/03/has-russia-reinvented-apec-as-well-as-its-asia-pacific-posture/

Muradov K. 2012. APEC: Russia’s window to the Pacific. East Asia Forum. 2 September. http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/09/02/apec-russias-window-to-the-pacific/

Lukin A. 2012. Russia’s APEC moment. East Asia Forum. 1 September. // http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/09/01/russias-apec-moment/