Factors influencing the Eurasian integration through the Intergovernmental Approach perspective

The topic of Eurasian integration is an integral part of the Russian academics studies. The post-Soviet region is considered as of paramount importance for Russia because of several reasons: post-Soviet countries are immediate neighbours, cultural and language links, common history, economic ties. Moreover, Eurasia is quickly transforming into an increasingly interconnected economic and - to a limited extent - political space.

Economic integration is a driving force for the advancement of economic situation and living standards in the country. Regarding integration processes on the Post-Soviet space, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan started the integration process in 1995 with the establishment of the Customs Union (CU). In January 2015 these states set up the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) presenting a new level of collaboration of states. It is evident, that there are specific factors which influence economic and political cooperation and interaction. And especially through such theoretical paradigm as Intergovernmental Approach the reasons of integration processes can be defined.

First of all, the main points of the Intergovernmental Approach are [1: p.67]:
1. Nation states are the core players on the international arena;
2. States seek to achieve their goals and purposes through the intergovernmental negotiations;
3. Foreign policy and national interests are determined by the internal social groups and external environment;
4. Cooperation is headed by supranational institutions.

Having analyzed all the aspects of the Eurasian integration via the Intergovernmental Approach it was found that the theory gives a full picture of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan’collaboration.

According to the official documents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, as the member states of the EEU, one of the major objectives for these countries is to achieve economic growth and promote living standards of the population [2]. Especially economic integration serves as a driving force for these particular goals. However, cooperation and interaction of these states are unbalanced due to the fact that post-Soviet countries have different levels of economic development.

The history of Eurasian integration covers over 20 years and implies a significant shift from the Project of the Eurasian Union of States to the Eurasian economic union founded in 2015 [3: p.8]. In 2010 for the first time in the history of the Eurasian integration state members delegated a part of their authorities to the supranational body, namely the Customs Union Commission.

Touching upon influence of internal groups of the population of these countries in should be stressed that about 80% of the population of Russia and Kazakhstan, approximately 60% of the Armenians and the Belorussians, and 86% of the Kirghiz support integration processes on the Eurasian space [4]. Moreover, influence of the Armenian diaspora, the Kirghiz labor migrants and entrepreneurs, Russian and Kazakh fuel and energy complex should be mentioned.
Furthermore, one of the key reasons for entering the EEU for Armenia is Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. By means of the EEU Armenian authorities strive to strengthen national security. Kyrgyzstan, at the same time, suffers from the implications after two revolutions in 2005 and 2010 ended up with economic recession. These political issues entail slowdown in the rates of economic growth.

The Eurasian integration is a momentum for the advancement of economic situation and living standards launched in 1995 with the establishment of the CU. Now we are witnessing the results of this integration processes, namely, the work of the EEU. The integration on the Eurasian space has a long history, the CU and the EEU have supranational bodies which represent a new level of interstate relations, and also the process of integration can be influenced by internal and external affairs.

In conclusion, with an aid of the Intergovernmental Approach and other research methods factors which influence the Eurasian integration were identified. They are: national interests of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan; supranational institutions established by the governments; influence of the internal political and social groups on the decisions of national leaders; internal and external environment.

Список литературы
1. Antje W. European integration theory / Antje Wiener and Thomas Diez. - 2ns ed. OxfordUniversityPress. - 2009.
2. Концепция внешней политики Российской Федерации. - 2013. - [Электронный ресурс]: http://archive.mid.rU/brp_4.nsf/0/6D84DDEDEDBF7DA644257B160051BF7F. (Дата обращения 16.11.2015).
3. Глазьев С. Ю. Евразийская экономическая интеграция в условиях глобализации / С. Ю. Глазьев // Евразийская интеграция: сборник научных трудов: ежегодник. Вып. 1. - СПб.: СПбГУП, 2014. - С. 8 - 16.
4. Интеграционный барометр ЕАБР - 2015 (четвертая волна измерений). - СПб.: ЦИИ ЕАБР, 2015. - 168 с. - [Электронный ресурс]: URL: http://www.eabr.org/general//upload/EDB_Centre_Analytical_Report_33_Full_Rus.pdf. (Дата обращения 25.03.2016).

Аннотация. The article is devoted to integrational processes on the Eurasian space. The author focuses on the major factors which exert influence on these processes via the ideas of the Intergovernmental approach. The results of the research show that these factors include national interests, institutional design of the organizations, and internal and external environment.
Ключевыеслова: Eurasian integration, Intergovernmental approach, supranational institutions, cooperation, the Customs Union, the Eurasian Economic Union.

Е. И. Матвеева