Commonwealth of Independent States

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was established in 1991 as an agreement of regional economic and political cooperation after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The organization was originally conceived of as an association to facilitate the disintegration of the Soviet Union and integration of the post-Soviet states economically and militarily. Participation by member states has varied based on the economies and military situation of each state. Lack of cohesion has characterized the union, as member states have been reluctant to yield sovereignty to the organization.

The CIS has no supranational powers. The members are independent and equal subjects. The original treaty established a common economic space and a joint defense force. However, each country still uses its own national currency and maintains its own national military. There have been gains in coordinating policies on health care, social security, migration, railways, and air traffic control.

The CIS was created in December 1991 by leaders of Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus. Armenia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan joined later that month, and Azerbaijan and Georgia were members by 1993. Of the former Soviet republics, only the Baltic countries have not joined the organization.

Headquartered in Minsk, Belarus, the structure of governance in the CIS is composed of several councils. The Councils of Heads of State and Heads of Government have decision-making power. Interministerial committees exist, such as the Councils of Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers. Other parts of the organization include departmental councils, an Executive Secretariat, economic organs, and the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. Problems encountered by the various organizational branches of the CIS include weakness, nonparticipation by certain countries, and lack of implementation of decisions.

Decisions are made by consensus, although members are allowed to abstain in any particular case without preventing adoption of the decision. This has resulted in few of the CIS agreements having been signed by all member states. The CIS also lacks monitoring or enforcement mechanisms.

Suspicion of Russia has fueled many of the difficulties the CIS has faced in developing a coherent system of regional governance. There is a rift among integrationists and those who are less interested in integration. Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are known as the more enthusiastic supporters, partly due to reliance on Russia. Ukraine and Georgia are among the skeptical members, due to the distrust of Russian influence and desire for removal of Russian troops. Members have complained of Russia's disproportionate role in the union.

There have been several attempts at integration among members outside of the CIS framework, including the Central Asian Economic Community (CAEC) involving Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and GUUAM (the economic union comprised of Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova).