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Title:
Inclusion without Membership: Bringing Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Closer to Europe: Mass Surveys, 2004-2005
(Mass Surveys: Belarus 2004, Russia 2004-2005, Ukraine 2004)

Subject Categories:
Government and political systems - Politics
International politics and organisations - Politics
Political behaviour and attitudes - Politics

Depositor(s):
White, S., University of Glasgow. Department of Politics

Principal Investigator(s):
White, S., University of Glasgow. Department of Politics
Light, M., London School of Economics and Political Science. Department of International Relations
Allison, R., London School of Economics and Political Science. Department of International Relations

Sponsor(s):
Economic and Social Research Council

Grant Number:
RES-000-23-0146

Abstract:
The project examined attitudes to new forms of co-operation and integration between Russia, Ukraine and Belarus and the rest of Europe. All three countries are the immediate neighbours of the expanding Euro-Atlantic community, which, as a result of the first wave of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) enlargement in 1999, has already reached their western borders. Despite considerable disparities in their international influence, these countries find themselves 'outsiders' in the advancing process of European Union (EU) and NATO enlargement. A better understanding of the issues of co-operation and integration of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus and the rest of 'Europe' is essential in its turn if enlargement is not to lead to 'new dividing lines' across a continent that has only recently been reunited after the Cold War.

These and related issues are examined through a series of elite interviews, focus groups, mass surveys and printed sources (only the survey data are held at the UK Data Archive). Aims of the project included: studying perceptions of the present state of relations between Russia, Ukraine and Belarus and the EU and NATO; asking what material factors and perceptions have underlain the drive of the leaderships to improve their relations with both organisations; examining the forms of 'integration short of membership' that Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian policy communities envisage for their countries in the medium term; and whether current complications in bilateral relations (such as Chechnya or media freedom) are a function of short-term divergences in policy priorities or evidence of a more fundamental difference in normative principles. Finally, the project aimed to discover whether the policy instruments currently used by the EU and NATO to promote Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian convergence with European norms and practices are those that are best calculated to influence official policy in each of the three countries.

Main Topics:
The main topics covered include: economic, political and foreign policy; public attitudes in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

Coverage:
Time Period Covered: March 2004-June 2005
Dates of Fieldwork: March 2004-June 2005
Country: Belarus; Russia; Ukraine
Spatial Units: Region
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Numeric data; Alpha/numeric data; Individual (micro) level

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:Cross-national; National
Population:The survey covers both urban and rural populations aged 18 and over in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine during 2004-2005

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: Multi-stage stratified random sample
Number of Units: Belarus 1,599; Ukraine 2,000; Russia (2004) 2,000; Russia (2005) 2,000
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview
Weighting: Weighting used. See documentation for details

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English; Russian

Access:
Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required. Available to all registered users. The depositor may be informed about usage.
Availability: ESDS International, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: international@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 7 August 2007

Copyright:
Copyright S. White

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