Legitimation and Delegitimation of International Organizations: The Case of the Eurasian Economic Union

Grant Funding 2022-2024
Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The project pursues two interrelated aims: to analyze (1) how the EAEU and its member-states attempt to legitimize the EAEU to domestic and international audiences; and (2) how some of those domestic and international actors perceive the legitimacy of the EAEU.

The study represents a multi-dimensional analysis that will provide a comprehensive understanding of the legitimacy issue related to the EAEU. The significance of such a study can be justified by several reasons:
- Despite growing academic literature related to the EAEU and integration-building in the post-Soviet space, the issue of the legitimacy of the EAEU has not yet attracted much scholarly attention. One possible exception is Kudaibergenova’s paper on political and social discourses towards the EAEU in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In this regard, empirical findings of the project will be a much-needed contribution to the existing gap in the literature.
- Related to the previous point, the project intends to contribute to the theorization of authoritarian regionalism and legitimation. The theories of regionalism still remain highly EU-centric, which limits their applicability to other alternative integration projects. At the same time, we see the growth of alternative types of integrational projects in different parts of the world, including authoritarian ones. The analysis of the EAEU’s case, as an example of a purely authoritarian project, promises to offer some theoretical insights to this literature too.
- Finally, on the practical side, a lack of legitimacy, both domestic and international, creates significant barriers to the effective functioning and development of any international organization. Therefore, empirical findings of the project can be of interest to decision-makers in central institutions of the EAEU, as well as in member-states. The findings related to limitations of their legitimation strategies, as well as to perceptions of the EAEU’s legitimacy, may potentially become applicable for them from the policy-making angle.

Upon successful completion of the project, the following results are expected to be achieved:
- at least 1 (one) article or review in a peer-reviewed scientific journal indexed in the Social Science Citation Index or Arts and Humanities Citation Index of the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 35 (thirty five);
- at least 2 (two) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed foreign and (or) domestic publications recommended by CQAES;
- either at least 1 (one) article or review in a peer-reviewed scientific publication included in 1 (first) or 2 (second) quartile by impact factor in the Web of Science database;
- either at least 2 (two) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in the Arts and Humanities Citation Index of the Web of Science database;
1) The team members aim to publish at least 2 (two) articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in the Web of Science database (Q1 and Q2 journals). These journals may include:
- Post-Soviet Affairs, (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=POST-SOV%20AFF&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 92%, CiteScore – 3.9, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/25654);
- Europe-Asia Stduies (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=EUROPE-ASIA%20STUD&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 96%, CiteScore - 2, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/20727);
- Central Asian Survey (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=CENT%20ASIAN%20SURV&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 52%, CiteScore – 1.4, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/16824);
- Journal of Eurasian Studies (Scopus: Percentile – 99%, CiteScore – 4.7, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/19700168801).
The PI and Researcher 1 of the project has already published with many of these journals and is able to meet their standards for quality.
2) Depending on the amount of collected data upon the completion of the project, the PI of the project will consider publishing a separate monograph related to the issue of the legitimacy of the EAEU. Such a monograph may include some of the already published articles, as well as new chapters unpublished previously.
3) The target audience of the project are academic scholars, both Kazakhstani and international, working on international affairs of the Eurasian and Central Asian region, as well as practitioners and diplomats involved in the work of the EAEU.
The findings of the project will be widely shared among the scholarly community through participation and presentation in the most prestigious international conferences in Eurasian and Central Asian studies.
Moreover, empirical findings of the project will be shared by practitioners and officials of the EAEU. The PI of the project has already had similar experience related to his previous projects. For example, his previous research findings on perceptions of the EU in Central Asia were shared by the office of Ambassador Peter Burian, a former EU Special Representative for Central Asia.
4) The scholarly and, potentially, practical impact of the project will be significant. As mentioned above, this is the first comprehensive study of the legitimacy of the EAEU to the team members’ best knowledge. Consequently, the empirical findings will make a much-needed contribution to the growing literature on the EAEU.
Moreover, the theory of legitimation of international organizations remains predominantly EU-centric. Therefore, the findings will make a contribution to this literature as well, demonstrating the case of authoritarian integration building and legitimation.
Upon successful completion of the project, the following results are expected to be achieved:
- at least 1 (one) article or review in a peer-reviewed scientific journal indexed in the Social Science Citation Index or Arts and Humanities Citation Index of the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 35 (thirty five);
- at least 2 (two) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed foreign and (or) domestic publications recommended by CQAES;
- either at least 1 (one) article or review in a peer-reviewed scientific publication included in 1 (first) or 2 (second) quartile by impact factor in the Web of Science database;
- either at least 2 (two) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in the Arts and Humanities Citation Index of the Web of Science database;
1) The team members aim to publish at least 2 (two) articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in the Web of Science database (Q1 and Q2 journals). These journals may include:
- Post-Soviet Affairs, (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=POST-SOV%20AFF&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 92%, CiteScore – 3.9, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/25654);
- Europe-Asia Stduies (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=EUROPE-ASIA%20STUD&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 96%, CiteScore - 2, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/20727);
- Central Asian Survey (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=CENT%20ASIAN%20SURV&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 52%, CiteScore – 1.4, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/16824);
- Journal of Eurasian Studies (Scopus: Percentile – 99%, CiteScore – 4.7, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/19700168801).
The PI and Researcher 1 of the project has already published with many of these journals and is able to meet their standards for quality.
2) Depending on the amount of collected data upon the completion of the project, the PI of the project will consider publishing a separate monograph related to the issue of the legitimacy of the EAEU. Such a monograph may include some of the already published articles, as well as new chapters unpublished previously.
3) The target audience of the project are academic scholars, both Kazakhstani and international, working on international affairs of the Eurasian and Central Asian region, as well as practitioners and diplomats involved in the work of the EAEU.
The findings of the project will be widely shared among the scholarly community through participation and presentation in the most prestigious international conferences in Eurasian and Central Asian studies.
Moreover, empirical findings of the project will be shared by practitioners and officials of the EAEU. The PI of the project has already had similar experience related to his previous projects. For example, his previous research findings on perceptions of the EU in Central Asia were shared by the office of Ambassador Peter Burian, a former EU Special Representative for Central Asia.
4) The scholarly and, potentially, practical impact of the project will be significant. As mentioned above, this is the first comprehensive study of the legitimacy of the EAEU to the team members’ best knowledge. Consequently, the empirical findings will make a much-needed contribution to the growing literature on the EAEU.
Moreover, the theory of legitimation of international organizations remains predominantly EU-centric. Therefore, the findings will make a contribution to this literature as well, demonstrating the case of authoritarian integration building and legitimation.
Upon successful completion of the project, the following results are expected to be achieved:
- at least 1 (one) article or review in a peer-reviewed scientific journal indexed in the Social Science Citation Index or Arts and Humanities Citation Index of the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 35 (thirty five);
- at least 2 (two) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed foreign and (or) domestic publications recommended by CQAES;
- either at least 1 (one) article or review in a peer-reviewed scientific publication included in 1 (first) or 2 (second) quartile by impact factor in the Web of Science database;
- either at least 2 (two) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in the Arts and Humanities Citation Index of the Web of Science database;
1) The team members aim to publish at least 2 (two) articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in the Web of Science database (Q1 and Q2 journals). These journals may include:
- Post-Soviet Affairs, (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=POST-SOV%20AFF&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 92%, CiteScore – 3.9, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/25654);
- Europe-Asia Stduies (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=EUROPE-ASIA%20STUD&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 96%, CiteScore - 2, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/20727);
- Central Asian Survey (WoS Q1: https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr-jp/journal-profile?journal=CENT%20ASIAN%20SURV&year=2020&fromPage=%2Fjcr%2Fhome. Scopus: Percentile – 52%, CiteScore – 1.4, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/16824);
- Journal of Eurasian Studies (Scopus: Percentile – 99%, CiteScore – 4.7, https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/19700168801).
The PI and Researcher 1 of the project has already published with many of these journals and is able to meet their standards for quality.
2) Depending on the amount of collected data upon the completion of the project, the PI of the project will consider publishing a separate monograph related to the issue of the legitimacy of the EAEU. Such a monograph may include some of the already published articles, as well as new chapters unpublished previously.
3) The target audience of the project are academic scholars, both Kazakhstani and international, working on international affairs of the Eurasian and Central Asian region, as well as practitioners and diplomats involved in the work of the EAEU.
The findings of the project will be widely shared among the scholarly community through participation and presentation in the most prestigious international conferences in Eurasian and Central Asian studies.
Moreover, empirical findings of the project will be shared by practitioners and officials of the EAEU. The PI of the project has already had similar experience related to his previous projects. For example, his previous research findings on perceptions of the EU in Central Asia were shared by the office of Ambassador Peter Burian, a former EU Special Representative for Central Asia.
4) The scholarly and, potentially, practical impact of the project will be significant. As mentioned above, this is the first comprehensive study of the legitimacy of the EAEU to the team members’ best knowledge. Consequently, the empirical findings will make a much-needed contribution to the growing literature on the EAEU.
Moreover, the theory of legitimation of international organizations remains predominantly EU-centric. Therefore, the findings will make a contribution to this literature as well, demonstrating the case of authoritarian integration building and legitimation.