Constructing Kaliningrad s Identity

This book maps constructions of Kaliningrad s identity at three sites (Moscow, Brussels and Kaliningrad) as it seeks to address the questions: (1) Can Russian and EU perspectives and policies towards Kaliningrad serve as an indicator for Russian-EU relations? (2) What role do the inhabitants of Kaliningrad see for themselves in EU-Russian relations? It explores the circumstances under which the northern part of East Prussia became Kaliningrad and provides a brief Soviet-era history before discussing its contested past. It is argued that Russian discourses present warrior and merchant conceptions, while the EU s discourses talk of integration but impose isolation . This book not only offers a comprehensive account of the positions taken by Russian and EU authorities, but also breaks new ground by introducing responses to these positions from Kaliningrad and analogies drawn with Hong Kong and Gibraltar. While the book is intended to contribute to academic debates in political geography, foreign policy analysis and international relations, it is also of interest to policy-makers and analysts interested in the Kaliningrad Puzzle .

Autorentext

Dr Paul Holtom is currently the Director of the Arms Transfers Programme at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. He studied Russian and East European Studies at the University of Birmingham, UK and was an International Expert for the Council of Europe Project Transfrontier Co-operation Programme on the Kaliningrad Oblast .

Klappentext

This book maps constructions of Kaliningrad''s identity at three sites'' (Moscow, Brussels and Kaliningrad) as it seeks to address the questions: (1) Can Russian and EU perspectives and policies towards Kaliningrad serve as an indicator'' for Russian-EU relations? (2) What role do the inhabitants of Kaliningrad see for themselves in EU-Russian relations? It explores the circumstances under which the northern part of East Prussia became Kaliningrad and provides a brief Soviet-era history before discussing its contested past. It is argued that Russian discourses present warrior'' and merchant'' conceptions, while the EU''s discourses talk of integration'' but impose isolation''. This book not only offers a comprehensive account of the positions taken by Russian and EU authorities, but also breaks new ground by introducing responses to these positions from Kaliningrad and analogies drawn with Hong Kong and Gibraltar. While the book is intended to contribute to academic debates in political geography, foreign policy analysis and international relations, it is also of interest to policy-makers and analysts interested in the Kaliningrad Puzzle''.