Authoritarian Regionalism and Sustainable Development: Eurasian and Global Challenges

This course aspires to shed light on autocracies-led regional international organizations, their strategies to engage with neighbouring states and implications for sustainable development in Eurasia (including Russia, China and the EU's near neighbourhood – post-Communist and post-Soviet region). Regional international organizations (RIOs) (such as the EU, for example) became important actors in the world politics of 21st century in democratization and diffusion of values of sustainable development and in implementation environmental reforms. However, the 21st century also witnessed the increase in number of autocracies-led RIOs. Examples of these organizations are the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, among others. The influence of this "authoritarian regionalism" has radically increased in terms of both geographic scope and intensity, creating an unprecedented challenge to democracies and democratization worldwide, as well as for sustainable development. This course will address the impact, importance, causes and consequences of these international organizations in global politics and in Eurasia. Understanding and analysis of authoritarian regionalism and its implications for sustainable development are relevant from both scientific and policy perspectives.

While studies and scholars and policy-makers debate focused on nation-level (e.g., on Russia, on Ukraine, on Belarus, or on China's led regional organizations), the role and the impact of RIOs on sustainable development and democracy were left outside of the mainstream debates. This course aims to augment our understanding of the current events through focusing on their external triggers – Autocracies-Led RIO (phenomenon, that is also known as "authoritarian regionalism"). The influence of these RIOs set up by autocracies, however, is a global phenomenon and exist in other regions of the World. The influence of these RIO has radically increased in the last few years. The goal of this course is to analyze autocracy expansion through the RIOs in Eurasia and their implications for sustainable development in the EU near neighborhood and beyond.

Course leader

Anastassia Obydenkova (Uppsala University - IBEI)

Target group

The IBEI Summer School in Global Politics and Policy is a program designed for graduate students and all those who have an interest in advanced knowledge of international security, international development and global politics issues. The objective is to offer different short courses on significant topics, taught by scholars and experts of international prestige. The School will enable participants to broadly discuss current developments in world politics in the light of core social-science and IR theories and perspectives.
Optionally, students may ask for an assessment in order to be able to obtain ECTS credits, provided they are recognized by their university. The 2023 edition of the IBEI Summer School in Global Politics and Policy is taking place in face to face format.

Course aim

This course aspires to shed light on autocracies-led regional international organizations, their strategies to engage with neighbouring states and implications for sustainable development in Eurasia (including Russia, China and the EU's near neighbourhood – post-Communist and post-Soviet region). Regional international organizations (RIOs) (such as the EU, for example) became important actors in the world politics of 21st century in democratization and diffusion of values of sustainable development and in implementation environmental reforms. However, the 21st century also witnessed the increase in number of autocracies-led RIOs. Examples of these organizations are the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, among others. The influence of this "authoritarian regionalism" has radically increased in terms of both geographic scope and intensity, creating an unprecedented challenge to democracies and democratization worldwide, as well as for sustainable development. This course will address the impact, importance, causes and consequences of these international organizations in global politics and in Eurasia. Understanding and analysis of authoritarian regionalism and its implications for sustainable development are relevant from both scientific and policy perspectives.

While studies and scholars and policy-makers debate focused on nation-level (e.g., on Russia, on Ukraine, on Belarus, or on China's led regional organizations), the role and the impact of RIOs on sustainable development and democracy were left outside of the mainstream debates. This course aims to augment our understanding of the current events through focusing on their external triggers – Autocracies-Led RIO (phenomenon, that is also known as "authoritarian regionalism"). The influence of these RIOs set up by autocracies, however, is a global phenomenon and exist in other regions of the World. The influence of these RIO has radically increased in the last few years. The goal of this course is to analyze autocracy expansion through the RIOs in Eurasia and their implications for sustainable development in the EU near neighborhood and beyond.

Credits info

1 EC
Participants have the opportunity to gain ECTS credits if they are recognized by their universities.

6 hour course: 1 credit = Complete the course + daily assignments / project work

Fee info

EUR 195: Fee for Students. Discount pricing for participants taking more than one course (2 courses 20%; 3 courses 30%; 4 courses 40%).
Early bird discount: an additional 10% discount for full payments received on or before 9 June 2023
EUR 280: Fee for Professionals/Researchers. Discount pricing for participants taking more than one course (2 courses 20%; 3 courses 30%; 4 courses 40%).
Early bird discount: an additional 10% discount for full payments received on or before 9 June 2023

Scholarships

A number of scholarships to cover full or half course fees will be available. In addition to the application requirements, to apply for a scholarship, interested persons must send until 20th May 2023, a letter of interest, CV and a recommendation letter