ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the concept of reciprocity, divergent approaches to it as well as five dichotomies that describe different facets of reciprocity. It presents some recent examples in EU-Russia relations where both parties applied reciprocity concept, but clearly understood it in different ways. The recent history of EU-Russia relations provides several examples of the difference in how Moscow and Brussels interpret reciprocity. The term reciprocity is frequently employed by both Russian and EU politicians and officials. In international relations (IR) theory it has been mentioned that reciprocity implies interdependence and the wish to maintain this interdependence. There are numerous parallels between the specific reciprocity, defined by Robert Keohane, and balanced reciprocity as described by M. Sahlins. Finally, the chapter compares the findings about the EU and Russian position to see whether something can be done to improve the understanding between the parties and to help them overcome the current dead end in their relations.
