‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Appling Regional Security Complex in South Caucasus

NabiAllah Ebrahimi; Qasem Osoli

Volume 21, Issue 90 , October 2016, Pages 1-38

Abstract

After the collapse of Soviet Union, South Caucasus has been the ground of different kinds of threats and security challenges. The most important security challenges in South Caucasus ... Read More

South Caucasus; Frustrated by the EU and Disappointed with Russian Federation

Alireza Samoudi Pilevar; Abed Noroozi Zar Mehri

Volume 21, Issue 90 , October 2016, Pages 39-66

Abstract

South Caucasus is one of the regions in the world which faces with numerous challenges considering the security area and after two decades of the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has ... Read More

Energy as the Area of "New Great Game" in Central Asia (The Case study: Russia, US and China)

Hossein Hamidinia; Roohollah Salehi Dolat Abadi

Volume 21, Issue 90 , October 2016, Pages 67-96

Abstract

With increasing economic dependence of world on hydrocarbon energy resources, and ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the emergence of Russia as a major player in the global energy ... Read More With increasing economic dependence of world on hydrocarbon energy resources, and ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the emergence of Russia as a major player in the global energy market; the resources of oil and gas in Central Asia and their transportation routes to consumer markets have been greatly considered by the great industrial powers. There have been decades of long struggles over controlling natural oil and gas resources and infrastructures, and influence of central Asia that has been called "the new great game" between Europe, China, Russia and America, and each of these powers were trying to outpace each other in order to obtain more influence in the region. In the years of the Soviet Union collapse and the discovery of huge reserves of oil and gas in Central Asia, the competition between the great powers has been intensified. On the one hand, the Russians by confining all the exporting routes of their land have tended to maintain their traditional influence and control over the newly independent states. On the other hand, the United States has entered in the region as a serious competitor, and as a fan of the paths that will lead to its own long-term goals and geopolitical interests. Also, China with its strong incentives to be present in Central Asia and to challenge the hegemonic policies of America and also to achieve the regional energy resources and huge market has entered in this competition. Although Russia is the major power in Central Asia's resources, the presence of new players such as America, and especially China and the efforts of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to find alternative ways to transport oil and gas have faced the Russian interests with some challenges in the region. Accordingly, the authors of this article ask this question: who is going to win the power game of having control over Central Asia's resources? Our hypothesis is that due to China's economic growth and the need of this country to the huge oil and gas resources as well as the development of Beijing's relationships with Central Asian neighbors; in the future China will be the main power in the region.

Russia’s Eurasian Integration Dissection; Conceptual and Operational Framework

Seyed Mohammad Kazem Sajadpour; Maryam Soleimany Darchagh

Volume 21, Issue 90 , October 2016, Pages 67-117

Abstract

Russian Federation is recognized as the main inheritor of Soviet Union on December 31, 1991 which was able to collect eleven newly independent Republics in the post-Soviet. Russian ... Read More

Comparative analysis of NATO and SCO Behaviors in Central Asia from 2001 to 2012

Hadi Soleimanpour; Masoud Akhshi

Volume 21, Issue 90 , October 2016, Pages 119-151

Abstract

The strategic importance of Central Asian region emerged within the framework or global security challenges following 9/11. NATO engagement in Afghanistan and the US strategic ... Read More The strategic importance of Central Asian region emerged within the framework or global security challenges following 9/11. NATO engagement in Afghanistan and the US strategic shifts from “energy security" to "fighting against terrorism" in the region, together with its new approaches in various political, military and operational fields within the context of comprehensive theory of "cooperative security" encountered with the formation of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)and the formation of new regional security arrangement within the context of neo-regionalism theory. These developments indicate the importance of the Central Asia Region in the world politics and amongst major players of these two organizations namely US, Russia and China over the past decade. This article tries to answer the main question by using a comparative-descriptive method: How could security policies of NATO and SCO in Central Asian Region be studied and theoretically compared? The authors believe that, over the past decade, member states of the two organizations have shared tactical interest such as the stability of Afghanistan, the fight against drug trafficking, organized crimes and terrorism, all realized in terms of partnership mechanisms for NATO peace and NATO-Russia council. Therefore, despite the existence of mechanisms of cooperation to achieve tactical shared interests, two organizations disagreed on strategic subject matters such as the long term goals of the US in the region, the expansion of NATO to the East and the controlling and managing energy security in Central Asia. In the meantime, there are some elements such as NATO’s bilateral relationship with some Central Asian countries being affected by China and Russia policies, contradicting goals of major players, and lack of comprehensive institutional mechanism of consultation and cooperation in the two organizations have deepened the differences among them.

Analytical Review of the Central Asia Regional Building Challenges

Abbas Gholi Asgarian

Volume 21, Issue 90 , October 2016, Pages 152-181

Abstract

In this paper, the Regional building process of economic and political dimensions of Central Asia in light of various factors checked, some of the factors include: Mutual cooperation, ... Read More

‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

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Volume & Issue: Volume 21, Issue 90, October 2016

Appling Regional Security Complex in South Caucasus

Abstract

South Caucasus; Frustrated by the EU and Disappointed with Russian Federation

Abstract

Energy as the Area of "New Great Game" in Central Asia (The Case study: Russia, US and China)

Abstract

Russia’s Eurasian Integration Dissection; Conceptual and Operational Framework

Abstract

Comparative analysis of NATO and SCO Behaviors in Central Asia from 2001 to 2012

Abstract

Analytical Review of the Central Asia Regional Building Challenges

Abstract