‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Abstract The attempt to retrieve Russia's position as one of the key actors in the international arena can be considered as a major feature of Russian foreign policy after Putin's rise to power. The Kremlin's foreign policy strategy in relation to the revival of the Russian empire and the vulnerable geopolitical situation and the political isolation of the Republic of Armenia have provided the basis for further Kremlin-Yerevan cooperation and promoted relations to the level of strategic partnership. The strategic partnership and the sustained cooperation that the two countries have had after the collapse of the Soviet Union have provided the Kremlin's strategic interests in the Caucasus region.
According to the above matters, the present article aims to study the political, economic and military-security dimensions of Russian influence in the Republic of Armenia. The main question of this article refers to the interests of Russia towards unification with Armenia. Providing Russia's political and security benefits, including dismantling the Western-European political and military infrastructure (EU-NATO) from the region, along with economic interests, has been the main aim of Russia from cooperation and unity with Armenia. In this paper, it has been attempted to examine Russia's interests in unity with Armenia in a descriptive and analytical way, using the balance of threat theory offered by Stephen Walt

Abstract The present article mainly attempts to deliver a comparison between China and US policies in combating terrorism in Central Asia. Therefore it addresses the following question: Which policies have been used by US and China for preventing the expansion of terrorism in Central Asia? The hypothesis is that these two actors have chosen a cooperative and interactive policy for combating terrorism. Central Asia’s security and stability has a greater importance for China. That is why China has some security considerations that have led this country to multilateralism while the United Sates is less inclined to it. The other differentiation is that US approach towards combating terrorism is military – based, while China emphasizes on political and economic methods.

Abstract Relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation have been fluctuating over the past three decades. Tension emerged during the first two terms of Putin's and Medvedev’s presidency, as well as Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008. However, during the third term of Putin's presidency, which began in 2012, the confrontation and tension between Brussels and Moscow was dramatically increased. The Ukraine crisis (2014) has raised concerns about the formation of a new Cold War in Europe. After the crisis in Ukraine, relations between Russia and the European Union have been largely frozen. In fact, the cooperation-conflict dichotomy was replaced by conflict. The main question of the present article is "What factors have led to the formation of a new cold war in relations between the European Union and Russian Federation? The hypothesis is "Russo-Georgian War, Eastern Partnership Program, Ukraine Crisis and Crimea Annexation to Russia have changed the way the European Union and Russia perceive each other as a geopolitical rival; and the ignite of a hybrid war by Russia against the European Union, as well as the start of a new Cold War era between the two actors". The research method used in this paper is descriptive-analytical method.

Abstract Central Asia’s ecosystem is reliant on region’s rivers and lakes. The conflicts over water resources still remain as a potential threat due to the unstable environment. The present article tries to explain the root causes of water crisis in Central Asia through answering the following question: The water crisis in Central Asia is leading towards divergence or integration? The elements such as USSR water management heritage, lack of access to energy resources, ambiguity in international rules, etc. the water crisis in Central Asia seems to lead to a conflict. Therefore international institutions are to strengthen regional integration for water resources.

Abstract Belt- Road Initiative as China’s foreign policy great strategy was proposed in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, and is known as China’s foreign policy spearhead. Since it includes many regional countries, the initiative has made its relevant actors design policies for optimizing its benefits and reducing its challenges. The author tries to define possible challenges of the Belt – Road Initiative for Iran. Therefore she tries to answer the following question: How the challenges of the Belt – Road Initiative are assessed? The challenges are addressed through two prisms: 1. negligence to Iran’s potentialities (as the factors of its effectiveness reduction); 2. foreign threats (as the factors that influence on Iran).
The present literature argues that although China always claims prosperity and economic integration as the goals of its Belt and Road Initiative, its approach is practically reflecting political and security consequences. Neorealism theory is used as the theoretical framework in this article.
 

Abstract Russia is a main actor in global energy market of production, exportation and transit. Russia’s energy strategy for 2035 and evolutions in energy market indicate that the market stability and preserving oil’s highest price are known as a priority for Russia’s foreign policy. Russia tries to use energy as a political instrument for reviving its power and international credit. OPEC as one of the most important international organizations of oil exportation has always had an important role in global energy market, but it has been influenced by different variables such as energy policies of not – member producing countries. The present article attempts to answer the following question: How Russia’s energy policy towards OPEC is assessed and how it has influenced on Russia’s interaction model towards OPEC? It seems that recognizing its energy resources Russia has been capable of having an impact on OPEC’s position in global energy market so that a new interacting model is emerged between the two actors.