Framework of identifying the features of Chinese and Eurasian regionalism: analysis of the “couple” phenomenon in the context of interregionalism theory

Today, major changes are taking place with transformational processes at the global and regional levels. The author notes that most of them do not fit into the classical schemes of regional integration and cannot be explained from the standpoint of classical theories of regionalism, especially in the context of the development of Sino-Russian relations. Such new phenomena as “connectivity,” “initiative,” “interregional” and “transregional” ties are a reflection of new trends in world development, new approaches to international cooperation and management in the global era. In this regard, the author sets the goal of the study – in the framework of identifying the features of Chinese and Eurasian regionalism, to analyze the phenomenon of “connectivity” in the context of the theory of interregionalism. As a result, the author comes to the results that “conjugation” acts as a new hybrid form of interregionalism, where it is not about the interaction of “regional block-regional block” or “regional block-great power,” but reflects the objective adaptation of regional actors to new conditions global competition and multi-level management. In practice, there is a tendency to replace “tough” integration alliances with softer, more flexible, situational and project-based formats of cooperation. That is, the phenomenon of “connectivity” is built into the modern logic of interregionalism as a manifestation of its evolution: from institutionalized block-block interaction to more flexible and adaptive block-initiative formats. “Connectivity” reflects the tendency of fragmentation and polycentricity of the world system. Thus, the phenomenon of “connectivity” in the context of interregionalism reflects the complex and multifaceted process of interaction between different regional blocs at the present stage. The theory of interregionalism offers a variety of explanations of the causes and mechanisms of connectivity, helping to further understand the dynamics of world processes and predict future trends.