New Regionalism in Post-Soviet Territory: Evolution from Eurasian Economic Community to Eurasian Economic Union

The post-Soviet region has been facing challenges such as ethnic conflicts, regime instabilities, separatism; border disputes, foreign rivalry, neo-imperial policies, security problems, human and drug trafficking, and water and energy tensions. This article examines the new regionalism of Eurasia with the Eurasian Economic Community. The treaty on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Community was signed on 10 October 2000 and came into effect on 30 May 2001, once it was ratified by all member states. Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan have been members of the Eurasian Economic Community since it was formed. Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine have observer status in the Eurasian Economic Community. In this study, the structure, main aims, activities and roles of the Eurasian Economic Community will be examined and the current status and future prospects of the Eurasian Economic Union will be evaluated in light of the crisis in Ukraine. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p198