Spatial Development of the Russian Black Sea Region in New Conditions

Introduction. Both latent and open processes (special military operation) are taking place in the Russian Black Sea region, which hinders the implementation of spatial development of regional projects. Some parts of the Greater Black Sea region belong to different economic, political and military groupings, which causes aggravation of contradictions.

In the new geopolitical conditions, Russia’s regional and national interests are not sufficiently comprehended in the context of the concept of the state’s foreign policy. This fully concerns the Russian Black Sea region, the strategic interests of which are conditioned both by the current trends of strengthening and aggravation of contradictions in the Black Sea basin and by the needs of increasing the synergy of interregional cooperation within the framework of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) [1].

Despite numerous obstacles in the implementation of spatial development of regions, we must strive to maximize the use of the enormous number of benefits from cooperation, the implementation of mutual agreements and the construction of effective models of progressive and democratic transformations.

With the progressive integration of Russia’s economy into the world economy, the problems of regional projects development become more and more relevant, because they increasingly influence the parameters of the national economy development. Based on the trends of strengthening the spatial development of the Russian Black Sea region and the presence of sufficiently favourable prerequisites for effective cooperation with the BSEC member states, this study aims to consider some of the most relevant issues of forming a system of goal-setting related to the implementation of the interests of the Russian Black Sea region in the context of the foreign policy concept.

Materials and Methods. In the process of research such methods and approaches as logical generalisation and synthesis for the formation of the main conclusions and proposals of the study; graphic meaning visualisation of the results of identification of the main directions and tasks of formation of descriptive model of development of interregional and international cooperation of the Black Sea region were used.

Results. The development of the basic model of regional interest formation in the context of foreign policy implementation is considered on the example of the Russian Black Sea coast. This coast occupies a special place in the system of international economic relations and national security of Russia due to its special (maritime) economic and geographical position and significant influence on foreign policy processes. Its high importance in strengthening the processes of Russia’s foreign policy is predetermined by its border position and access to the Black Sea-Mediterranean Sea and the world ocean, which provides the region’s advantages in transport and transit opportunities.

Today in the Russian Black Sea region there are confrontational processes associated with contradictory economic, social, political and other interests of various subjects of economic activity, regional and international politics.

In this context we consider it necessary to pay special attention to such problems:

1) insufficient formation of a scientifically substantiated system of Russia’s regional and national interests in the Black Sea basin and neighbouring basins: the Mediterranean and the Caspian;

2) In the system of national target-setting for the realisation of a set of regional and national interests of Russia, it is necessary to take into account new factors when, on the one hand, NATO countries build up their military presence and conduct military exercises in the Black Sea region, and, on the other hand, Ukrainian armed forces in Odessa and near the borders of Crimea build up and intensify [2].

In light of the above, let us consider some of the most pressing issues of formation and protection of regional and national interests of Russia, in particular the interests of the Russian Black Sea region.

The problem of defence of national interests is defined today as one of the most urgent at the current stage of Russia’s formation, including in connection with external aggressive actions.

In a broad sense, the national interests of Russia can be summarised in the following provisions [3; 4]:

1) creation of civil society, increasing the effectiveness of public authorities, including local self-government;

2) development of democratic institutions to ensure human rights and freedoms;

3) achieving national harmony, political and social stability, guaranteeing equal rights to citizens regardless of their ethnicity;

4) ensuring state sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders;

5) creation of a sustainable socially oriented economy;

6) ensuring environmental and technological safety in the system of life and society;

7) preservation and enhancement of the scientific and technical potential of the country;

8) improving the life of the Russian people, its physical health and intellectual potential;

9) achievement of equal and mutually beneficial relations with all states integrated into international systems.

In addition to the outlined system of national interests, we emphasise the following: the fundamental basis for the formation of national interests is the national idea, which according to E.V. Kilimnik [5, P. 13] is considered as a formalised and formed national dream, which has become the property of the majority of peoples; one of the most important components of ‘national interests’ are national and universal values.

Below we will dwell on the issues of formation of modern interests of Russian regions on the example of the Russian Black Sea region.

Russia’s regional, national and international interests in the Black Sea basin are determined primarily by three extraordinary strategic tasks:

1) mobilisation of the maritime potential of the Russian Black Sea coast to solve economic problems of the coastal regions and the state, as well as to protect national interests in the Black Sea basin and other areas of the World Ocean;

2) strengthening Russia’s geo-economic and geostrategic interests in the Black and Azov Seas and related basins as a maritime power;

3) effective use of the above-mentioned potential and geopolitical positions to realise Russia’s foreign policy potential on favourable terms.

The system of long-term (strategic) economic interests of Russia in the Black Sea basin, realised on the basis of mobilisation of the maritime potential of the Russian Black Sea region, can be reduced to the following group of interests:

1) transport development of sea, river and other communications;

2) development of natural resources of the marine environment and coastal zone (bioresources, industrial mariculture, resort and recreational and other resources);

3) development of energy potential (oil and gas production on the shelf, development of unconventional energy on the coast, etc.);

4) creation of a system of sustainable strategic partnership to ensure regional security in the Black Sea basin based on the implementation of foreign policy strategy and intensification of activities of international organisations with the participation of Russia, BSEC and others.

Taking into account official documents and different points of view [6‒9], it is possible to formulate a system of interests of interregional and international cooperation of the Russian Black Sea regions.

This system presented in the form of a descriptive model of multidimensional cooperation development of the Russian Black Sea region, shown in Fig. 1. This model is based on the triad of basic directions of interregional cooperation, namely:

1) main interests of interregional and international co-operation of the Russian Black Sea regions;

2) main tasks of intensification of interregional co-operation of the Russian Black Sea regions;

3) basic targets (target setting) for the development of interregional cooperation of the Russian Black Sea regions and partnerships.

Fig. 1. Descriptive model of the development of interregional and international cooperation of the Russian Black Sea region (BSR) in the context of the foreign policy concept

We consider it necessary to add that Russia’s interests in the Black Sea basin have a multifaceted dimension: geopolitical, geo-economic, military-defence, environmental and others.

The geopolitical dimension of Russia’s national interests in this region is related to the assessment of the system of opportunities for access to marine biological and mineral (primarily energy) resources; the formation of conditions for equal co-operation between the BSEC member states and other international institutional systems; the cessation of geopolitical tension of confrontational tendencies in the Black Sea basin, and other regions of the world.

The geo-economic dimension of Russia’s national interests should be considered in terms of integration of the Russian Black Sea region, first of all, into the world economic system on the basis of active participation of the Black Sea regions in interregional and international economic relations.

The military-defensive dimension of Russia’s national interests in the Black Sea basin is related to the tasks of effective implementation of the state’s defence strategy in the southern borders, participation in the creation of a system of common regional security and prevention of military conflicts in this region [10; 11].

The economic dimension of Russia’s national interests in the Black Sea basin should be seen primarily as an assessment of the possibilities for rationalising the use of natural resources, ensuring the natural reproduction of biological resources and preserving the biodiversity of the Black Sea. This assessment should form the basis for the organisation of integrated management of nature use and environmental protection in the region.

Discussion and Conclusion. The Russian Black Sea coast occupies a significant place in the system of regional and international economic relations due to its special maritime status for Russia, availability of resource potential and its exclusive role in the realisation and protection of Russia’s national interests. This potential and opportunities should have a multilateral dimension — geopolitical, geo-economic — environmental and military-defence. At present, the Russian Black Sea coast is experiencing a period of crisis social and economic phenomena, which are provoked by internal and external factors. Geopolitical tension requires constant monitoring, forecasting and appropriate adequate management actions, including preventive ones. One of the primary strategic interests of the Russian Black Sea region, related to its economic revival, is the urgent implementation of the foreign policy strategy. In doing so, it is important to take into account, control and forecast possible dangers associated with the current trends of militarisation of the Black Sea basin. Russia should make every effort to find strategies of behaviour in this region that are beneficial for the state and the Russian Black Sea region and implement them in the interests of sustainable economic development of the littoral regions and ensuring national security.