The second constraint stems from the very nature of the socio-political systems in Russia and other would-be members of an economic union. Such systems tend to prioritize the preservation of political power over the general well-being of the population. Supporting authoritarian-style systems in what Russia's policy elite sees as its geopolitical sphere of influence is perceived as a sine qua non for this elite's ultimate long-term survival.
Ironically, it is precisely Moscow's preference to prop up post-Soviet authoritarian rulers that puts a brake on any potential integration process because authoritarian power is seen as indivisible in the former Soviet sphere, and not transferable to a supra-national body. This conundrum is perhaps best illustrated by Russia's prickly relationship with Belarus: the two countries are technically unified, but hardly interact in a unified fashion.
Ultimately, Putin's hopes for a Eurasian Union are doomed simply because Russia appears to be unable to prevent the erosion of its economic position in the post-Soviet space. Russia's geopolitical competitors have managed to dramatically increase their strategic and economic footprints in the region. Most importantly, Russia seems to have lost its stranglehold over Turkmenistan's vast gas reserves, with China increasingly becoming Ashgabat's principal trading partner.
Lately Russia has been seeking to cast itself as a potential "norm-maker," pretending to act as a counterweight to the EU. However, Kremlin ideologists never spell out in what sense Russia's "specific" set of values differs from Europe's. So far, Russia has failed to present an alternative socio-political model that could be attractive to societies in post-Soviet lands.
Putin's Eurasianist vision is an ideology that is deficient in practical ideas. Thus, as it proceeds with its Eurasian union plans, the Kremlin stands a good chance of being consumed by what might be called Tsar Paul complex. Students of Russian history might recall that Tsar Paul in the late 18th became fixated with the idea of establishing a Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea. The idea back then had its strategic merits, but, as experience showed, Paul and his dream were completely divorced from reality.
