The Globalization Project of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Czerewacz-Filipowicz, Katarzyna; Konopelko, Agnieszka

The Globalization Project of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Abstract

The chapter examines the globalization project of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as a response to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the transformation of the international order after the Cold War. The primary aim of the CIS was to preserve political, economic, and security linkages among newly independent post-Soviet states and to reduce the costs of systemic transition. The CIS globalization project also had a strong geopolitical dimension, serving as an instrument for maintaining Russia’s influence in the region and contributing to the broader objective of shaping a multipolar world order. Membership motivations varied and included security concerns (regional stability, border control), economic dependence on Russia, the need for trade cooperation, and the legitimization of political elites. In practice, the CIS did not evolve into a classical integration organization but rather functioned as a mechanism for maintaining pre-existing interconnections after the dissolution of a unified state. It developed a complex institutional framework, yet its effectiveness remained limited and implementation of agreements was often weak. Over time, diverging interests among member states led to processes of disintegration and the emergence of alternative regional projects. Some countries pursued Western integration (EU, NATO), while others adopted balancing strategies or created their own regional initiatives. The limited effectiveness of the CIS contributed to the evolution of its globalization project and the emergence of more advanced integration frameworks, such as the Eurasian Economic Union, which better reflected Russia’s integration ambitions. In conclusion, the CIS can be understood as a globalization project with constrained effectiveness, primarily aimed at managing the post-Soviet space and preserving geopolitical influence, but lacking the capacity for deep regional integration.

Keywords

regional organization globalization project Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Citation

CZEREWACZ-FILIPOWICZ, Katarzyna i KONOPELKO, Agnieszka, 2025. The Globalization Project of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In: ENGEL, Ulf, HERPOLSHEIMER, Jens i MATTHEIS, Frank (red.), Globalization Projects of Regional Organizations. Online. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Verlag. p. 135–154. ISBN 978-3-525-34035-6. Available from: https://www.vr-elibrary.de/doi/pdf/10.13109/9783666340352

URI

https://open.icm.edu.pl/handle/123456789/26897

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