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On 3 September 2013, the president of Armenia shifted the long-praised process of initialing political association and economic integration with the European Union and announced Armenia’s decision to join the Russia-led Customs Union and participate in the processes of formation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Practitioners and observers interpreted it either as a U-turn or as a surprise move mainly assuming that what happened was the result of Russian pressure on Armenia. However, when tensions and uncertainty eased, it became obvious that what happened was a result of complex reasons. Geopolitical constraints and socio-political problems that had accumulated in Armenia during recent years coincided with an assertive expansion of Russia’s foreign policy. This research provides a number of explanations for that political decision to understand the primary determinants of that move. It also examines the political and economic implications of Armenia’s membership of the EAEU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the challenges that Armenia faces in choosing between European and Eurasian integration projects. The EU and Russia-led Eurasian integration processes provide new framework to analyze Armenia's integration choice through the small states theory. Particularly, the paper tries to conduct discussion on the key political factors that were behind the decision of President Serzh Sargsyan to join Russian led Customs Union and to take part in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. The article attempts to address the possible impacts of Ukrainian crisis on Armenia's elite perception of regional security and reasons of the absence of Maidan scenario in Yerevan. In addition, the article takes into consideration the factor of Armenian Diaspora in Russia in explaining Armenia's intention to join the Customs Union. For this case a useful perspective comes from cultural studies, par excellence Gramsci's concept of hegemony, and one from International political economy, particularly neo-Gramscianism. This comprehensive perspective allows us better understand Armenia's problems and prospects on the way to its aspirations of integration with the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]