This book critically evaluates more than 10 years of Russian membership in the Council of Europe. Starting from the second term of Putins presidency, one can observe a Russian strategy to undermine the normative power of the Council of Europe. As a result the desirability of Russian membership in the Council of Europe is questioned more than ever.

"The CIS, the EU, and Russia" focuses on the difficulties facing Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus with regard to their integration into both the CIS and the encroaching EU. It analyzes the links between the integration mechanisms of the CIS and EU and the various state policies towards, and the elite interests in, the territory of the former Soviet Union.

This book focuses on the difficulties facing Russia, Ukraine and Belarus with regard to their integration into both the CIS and the encroaching EU. It analyzes the links between the integration mechanisms of the CIS and EU and the various state policies towards, and the elite interests in, the territory of the former Soviet Union.