Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS) was founded in October 2006 in the framework of the World Economics and International Affairs Faculty of the State University Higher School of Economics (HSE) and the HSE’s Innovative Education Programme in order to foster the interaction between research, education and information analysis within the Faculty and the University.

The Center comprises the research staff of the Faculty and the activities of the group of experts headed by Sergey Karaganov, Doctor of History. The group brings together academic resources of the Institute of Europe, the Institute of Strategic Studies and Analysis (ISSA), the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (CFDP) and the journal “Russia in Global Affairs” and for the two latest years occupies a considerable position in Russian and, partially, international expert discussion concerning relations between Russia and the European Union. The results of research represent one of the major sources of information for the Russian government, and were repeatedly acknowledged by their heads and representatives. Thus, notably, the team keeps its leading positions in the expert discussion involving domestic and foreign experts, government and business representatives and focusing on the legal basis of relationships between Russia and the EU. The team also provides consultations to a number of Russian companies.

Research areas

• World around Russia: 2017
• Global governance issue and role of government
• Relations between Russia and the United States
• The European Union and Russia-EU relations
• Global energy market
• Chna and Asian countries
• The Middle East and Islamic countries

World around Russia: 2017

The project is being implemented together with the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (CFDP) and the RIO-Center with the assistance of leading Russian experts, government and business representatives.

Global governance issue and role of government

The general decline in governance in the global system represents the principal trend in international affairs and will continue within the coming decade. The international community represented by states and non-state players can’t reverse the trend of a growing chaos in the world. The most part of the major international institutions and regulations weaken or turn out to be inadequate to the continuously changing conditions. The unpredictability of global development poses a serious challenge to the security of the leaders of the international system, including Russia.

Relations between Russia and the United States

Despite the facts that for a long time yet the relations between Russia and the US do not represent a prominent issue and that the importance of bilateral links has decreased for both sides, in the next few decades the United States’ factor will remain crucial in Russia’s foreign policy and will largely determine Russia’s position in the global economic and political system, as well as its prospects of economical modernization.

European Union and relations between Russia and the EU

In Europe, situated westward of Russian borders, the political situation is largely determined by the state and evolution of the leading member states of the European Union (EU), and, to a lower extend, by the situation in the NATO military-political bloc. On the ground of the analysis of the last few years there are serious reasons to believe that the political project of the European Union is in state of systemic crisis, which can result in qualitative shifts in the entire political and economic system of Europe. Russian policy concerning Europe should not be guided neither by the concept of yesterday’s Europe nor by tomorrow’s Europe, it should be based on the range of possible scenarios of integration development.

Global energy research

The global energy market is going through serious changes, some of which may reach their final phase by 2017. It becomes increasingly evident that common practice of relations between energy producers and consumers established in the last quarter of 20th century disappear. The existing mechanisms for regulating the global energy market no longer work. The growth of competition between consumers fueled by the emergence of such powerful players as China and India becomes more and more obvious.

China and Asian countries

East Asia represents the most dynamic region of the globe in terms of economy and the most non-uniform region in terms of politics. In spite of the rapid growth of the Asian economies together with their increasing role in global politics, Russia has not yet demonstrated its ability to take advantage of its geographical presence in the region. Moscow often disregards geopolitical shifts occurring in the region and perceives the situation only in the light of its competition with the US. The development strategy of Russian economy fails to take into account the great economic progress in the region.

Regardless of the Moscow’s position, East Asia’s dynamic and intricate development will have an increasing impact on Russia, primarily, on its East Siberian and Far Eastern regions. We will have not only to adapt to challenges and opportunities, coming from East Asia, but also seek for mechanisms of advantageous for Russia influence on the region. In this context the most critical task is development of “a Big Asian strategy” that would link internal objectives and development mechanisms with the East Asia factor.

China plays as the main political and economic force in the region. The growth of China’s economic power, and, therefore, political influence causes leaders to change their traditional view of the “Chinese factor” and adapt to its new global and regional positioning. The China’s integration into East Asian political and economic processes, as well as the way it is perceived by regional actors, has not been smooth. This reflects the difficult and contradictory nature of the deep transformations taking place in East Asia. The fight for leadership and competitive advantages is deeply intertwined with the ideology and practice of multilateral cooperation.

Middle East and Islamic countries

The Middle East region is traditionally viewed as a major energy “storehouse,” yet its importance for global political stability goes beyond the energy interests of industrialized nations. From this region originate a significant number of contemporary threats: Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism, drug trafficking, spread of weapons of mass destruction. Some Middle East countries are either in a stage of collapse (e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan), or are close to serious civil conflicts (Pakistan, Lebanon). Even in countries where internal political situation is relatively stable, there are emerging ethnic and sectarian conflicts, threatening to lead to devastating social upheavals (Syria and, with some reservations, Iran).