US VS OTHER: THE BALTIC STATES’ AND GEORGIA’S PATHWAYS TO EUROPE (1991-2004)

Abstract

This article is inspired by the  empirical puzzle that the  comparison of the  Baltic states’ and Georgia’s European integration cases embody during the  period of 1991- 2004,  – that is from  the  break up  of the  Soviet Union  to when Baltic  States became the  members of the  European Union  and Georgia was  included in the  European Neighbourhood Policy. By comparing EU policy  and discursive practices towards the  Baltic  states and Georgia during these 13 years of their independence, the  author finds  that the  different pathways of their European integration were  shaped in light  of the  distinctive perception of Balts’ and Georgians’ European identity held by the  EU. European identity is scrutinized as  an  operational social construction in the  EU’s hands that often serves as a reason/justification for more or less European integration. The subsequent findings are theoretically interpreted through Discursive Institutionalism along with the  methodology of Discourse Analysis, that discerns the  differences in the  EU’s manner of communication towards the  Baltic states and Georgia in its foreign policy towards the  two.