‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

The Zero-Sum Game in South Caucasus; Emphasizing the Karabakh War 2020

Mahdi Feizollahi; Hosein Pourahmadi Meibodi

Volume 29, Issue 123 , December 2024, , Pages 67-92

Abstract

The Karabakh crisis remained in a state of neither war nor peace for tens of years, but with the Second Karabakh War, it came out of the state of "frozen conflict" and the South Caucasus, ... Read More

The 2020 Azerbaijan-Armenia War and Nagorno-Karabakh Frozen Conflict

Ali Basiriniya; Amin Sabaghzade

Volume 29, Issue 123 , December 2024, , Pages 93-112

Abstract

Following the outbreak of renewed conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh in late 2020, a trilateral agreement mediated by Russia was signed. This led to the ... Read More

Iran and Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Geopolitics and Eurasian Identity

Masoud Hamyani; Seyed mohammad kazem Sajjadpour

Volume 28, Issue 117 , June 2022, , Pages 71-98

Abstract

Following the emergence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an influential regional organization in the expanse of Eurasia in the early 21st century, Tehran has aptly recognized ... Read More Following the emergence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an influential regional organization in the expanse of Eurasia in the early 21st century, Tehran has aptly recognized this mechanism for spread of multilaterism, creation of a Eurasian order, and the connection of the country’s economy with the nonwestern capital and technology markets. On the other side, it has been for long that the Shanghai leaders have come to this conclusion that introducing new governments, both as permanent members and supervising members and participation in the talks, broadens not only the borders of the organization, but also helps alleviate criticisms concerning the limited scope of activities of the organization and increase its effectiveness. As a result, the founding members agreed to Iran full membership process at the 21st session of the organization, after Iran’s 15 years of waiting. The present paper intends to answer the key question below: What does Tehran full member mean, among the current geopolitical changes in Eurasia? And what role can Tehran play in completing the organization in integrating Eurasia? Based on the Constructivism Theory and Social Construct of regions, the findings of this research show, using the qualitative method and Inter-minded Horizon , that in a long term look , the Shanghai Organization provides a significant mechanism for achieving some goals of foreign policy , especially for the “Look to East” policy of Tehran. Full membership, also facilitates active participation of Tehran in shaping the security and economic status of the region. Tehran, in its turn , can play a major role in formulating and completing the Shanghai Organization, because Iran’s regional interests arise from the country’s goals in creating a Eurasian Society and preventing the region from becoming a hotbed of terrorism and extremism; using the country’s geo-economic capacities for creating a bridge between Asia and Europe, as well as Iran’s position as a hub of trade and connecting roads in the region , is compliant with the Shanghai Organization’s goals.

Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea and its Impacts on the Cooperation among Littoral States

Ali Tiztak; Hamid Ahmadi; kayhan Barzegar

Volume 26, Issue 111 , March 2020, , Pages 1-23

Abstract

The independence of the Central Asian and South Caucasus republics in the early 1990s and the establishment of new states along the Caspian Sea inevitably affected the legal status ... Read More The independence of the Central Asian and South Caucasus republics in the early 1990s and the establishment of new states along the Caspian Sea inevitably affected the legal status of the Caspian Sea, which had been formed incompletely by previous treaties, and the unilateral actions of the Caspian Sea littoral states in the field of exploitation of the sea's energy resources and the signing of oil and gas contracts with large Western companies had caused disagreements and ambiguities about the legal regime of the sea and the exploitation of undersea resources. The influx of Western oil and gas companies to exploit the black gold in the Caspian Sea, along with the difficulties of not determining the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, further widened the differences between the littoral states and prolonged the negotiation process to reach a comprehensive agreement. The signing of the "Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea" as an important achievement, while resolving many ambiguities and disagreements on the issues regarding the Caspian Sea, will determine the general framework of cooperation among littoral states and will turn the Caspian Sea into another pole of regional cooperation. This article has been compiled with the aim of exploring the causes and areas of cooperation among littoral states in the light of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea and seeks to provide an appropriate answer for the following question; "how the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea could affect and improve cooperation among littoral states?" The article hypothesizes that by removing many ambiguities about the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, creates new opportunities for cooperation among littoral states. The present article is of qualitative (descriptive-analytical) type and using methodology (inductive-inferential), the data have been analyzed by library study and documentary analysis.

The Evolution and Geopolitical Rationality of the Caspian Region with Establishment of Legal Status : Interaction and Convergence Behavior

Majid Samad Zade Saber; Mohammad Reza Hafez Nia; Zahra Ahmadi

Volume 26, Issue 111 , March 2020, , Pages 85-115

Abstract

Caspian Sea as the world's largest lake is an alive and dynamic geopolitical region, with a new identity that has both potential of Convergence and Divergence. The collapse of ... Read More

Hegemony, Geopolitics and China -US Relation

Jahangir Karami; Parisa Shahmohammadi

Volume 25, Issue 105 , May 2019, , Pages 133-160

Abstract

The facts and figures as well as expert reviews of international politics prove that China is in the trend of a power rise as well as hegemony afterwards. The main issue is about the ... Read More

Neo-mercantilist approach of Russia and China to the Central Asia energy

Hossein Rafi; Mohsen Bakhtiari Jami

Volume 22, Issue 95 , December 2016, , Pages 33-64

Abstract

The application of neo-mercantilist policies by the great powers indicates the ineffectiveness of mercantilist exploitation plans of the past century and the emergence of a new era ... Read More The application of neo-mercantilist policies by the great powers indicates the ineffectiveness of mercantilist exploitation plans of the past century and the emergence of a new era of conflict and competition to establish a business balance and maximize the economic profits. The priority of controlling energy resources of “Central Asia”, has placed the domination policy over hydrocarbon resources at the center of the foreign policy of regional powers “Russia and China”, with the aim of convergence and consolidating their superior position in comparison to the rival power. Leaping for the economic development and at the same time, rising oil and gas prices in the world market, Russia's struggle in order to achieve the foreign exchange revenue, which is obtained from raw materials trade; China's reliance on vital arteries of oil and gas in order to sustain economic growth as well as design neo-mercantilist policies, have made the maximization of the resources’ control inevitable. Occurrence of economic and political crises in the relations between Russia and “European Union” (EU),as well as a reduction in prices, changed Russia's trade strategy in the oil and gas sector, which led to the increase of the volume of exports and commercial convergence with China to supply the foreign exchange revenue deficit. In this regard, due to the competition between the two great regional powers, the question is: Which component has intensified the compilation and implementation of neo-mercantilist commercial-economic policies in the region? The main hypothesis of this article is as follows: The use of rich oil and gas resources with the goals of earning foreign exchange revenues, continuing domestic economic growth, maintaining a balance in prices, coping the domination of rival over resources, have made the pursuit of neo-mercantilist policies in the region essential. The research method in this article is descriptive-analytical, citing on the Latin books and articles and reliable cyberspaces of the web sites.

Geopolitics Changes of Caucasus and its Effects on National Security of Islamic Republic of Iran

hamid hakim; Asghar Jafari Valdani

Volume 21, Issue 91 , October 2016, , Pages 37-64

Abstract

The Caucasus always has enjoyed a unique geopolitical importance. The fall of the Soviet Union and its geopolitical aftermath were the factors which dramatically enhanced the significance ... Read More

An Analysis of the impact of Neo-Eurasian thought on Russian Foreign Policy in the 2014 Ukrainian Crisis

Ali Ali Hosseini; Hassan Aineh Vand

Volume 21, Issue 92 , October 2016, , Pages 131-165

Abstract

In recent years, the idea of Eurasianism has led Russian Foreign Policy more than any other idea, particularly in the Near Abroad regions. This Idea believes in standing against a uni-polar ... Read More

Explaining the New Diplomacy of China's Neighborhood toward Afghanistan

Nozar Shafiee; Roohollah Salehi Dolat Abad

Volume 22, Issue 94 , September 2016, , Pages 71-102

Abstract

In recent years, the unprecedented development of China and Afghanistan relations and the entrance of China into the domain of Afghanistan political evolutions as a neutral actor indicates ... Read More

Security Vision of Globalization in Caucasus Domain of Geopolitics

Volume 18, Issue 79 , November 2014, , Pages 83-3

Abstract

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse, although geopolitical theory of New World Order, could nor provide the world within a comprehensive order, the globalization process ... Read More

The Effect of Position of Energy Pipelines on Geopolitics of Caucasus and Central Asia

seyed mohammadreza mousavi

Volume 18, Issue 80 , November 2014, , Pages 147-169

Abstract

Before collapse of the Soviet Union, energy pipelines of Central Asia and Caucasus regions were exclusively possessed by the Russians, who were the only regional power in geopolitics ... Read More

Clarification of Russian Foreign Policy in Regards to the Crisis in Ukraine in Terms of Defensive Structural Realism

Volume 20, Issue 87 , September 2014, , Pages 1-32

Abstract

The importance of Ukraine as one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world due to its "geopolitical", "strategic" and "geo-economical" characteristics has made this country one ... Read More

Requirements of and factors Affecting Alliances in South Caucasus

Volume 20, Issue 87 , September 2014, , Pages 125-148

Abstract

The Collapse of the Soviet Union caused a very important change in the security environment of the areas that were separated, including the South Caucasus. The emergence of three states ... Read More

Volume 29 (2023)

Volume 28 (2022)

Volume 27 (2021)

Volume 26 (2020)

Volume 25 (2019)

Volume 24 (2018)

Volume 23 (2017)

Volume 22 (2016)

Volume 21 (2015)

Volume 20 (2014)

Volume 19 (2013)

Volume 18 (2013)

Volume 17 (2012)

Volume 16 (2011)

Volume 15 (2010)

Volume 14 (2009)

Keywords = Geopolitics

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