Rethinking Central Asia and its Security Issues (original) (raw)
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Central Asia: construction of the new regional security complex?
The Journal of Cross-Regional Dialogues/La Revue de dialogues inter-régionaux, 2020
Central Asia (CA) faces an important stage of its development. Over 25 years have passed since the independence of the regional states. The election of Shavkat Mirziyoyev as the President of Uzbekistan in 2016 became a focal point in the contemporary situation in the region and contributed to the intensification of Tashkent's foreign policy. The latter has demonstrated increasing cooperation with neighbouring countries, strengthening trade and economic relations, as well as in seeking compromise solutions on the most pressing issues in CA, including borders and water usage, among others. Such position of Uzbekistan that keeps a special role in the region due to its strategic location, economic and demographic potential, rich history and culture has marked a trend towards the growth of regional cooperation in CA. Despite the extremely pessimistic forecasts of some experts on the possibility of destabilising the situation in CA, regional countries managed to take place as sovereign states and prevent armed conflicts after the end of the civil war in Tajikistan in 1997. Resorting to systematic and comparative methods of analysis, and to the regional security complex (RSC) theory of Barry Buzan and Ole Waever, we put forward the argument of the formation of a new independent RSC in CA, for the last more than 25 years after the acquisition of sovereignty by five regional countries. At the same time, by looking at Afghanistan through the lens of an 'insulator', we identify a country that has a significant impact on the security processes in the region and participates in the RSC of CA.
Kriter Yayınevi, 2020
In the security area, Central Asian states’ policies are determined by the geopolitical location of the region and its internal dynamics in the region. In this sense, the Central Asian States' security policies emerge in two levels. Security policies carried out with/within the framework of the foreign and/or powerful states of Central Asian countries, which we can call macro level and the micro level: that is the threats/challenges that might affect the security of the regional states and their relationships in accordance with their national interests. When addressed on macro level, most of the time, the first thing that comes to mind is military security when security is in question. The region, which includes Central Asian countries, is viewed as a turbulent zone in terms of military security in the period after independence and before and after September 11. This is the paradoxical status of Central Asia, which gains ground through external pressure as the integral region, but at the same time retains its “split” character/ nature. Due to this ambiguousness, Central Asian region is viewed as a turbulent zone with high risks and unpredictable nature. The problem of borders, the Fergana Valley, ethnic enclaves etc. only increase fragmentation, but the same "Afghan issue" and hypothetical attack of the Taliban movement on the countries of the region push these states to develop a common vision/position. This vision is important because it allows external players to consolidate the Central Asian countries around themselves and their geopolitical interests. In this regard, we can talk about the influence of Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization -CSTO, China and Shanghai Cooperation Organization- SCO, the United States and NATO. These countries and international structures close to their interests realize their “high status” through “the discourse of threats”.3 In other words, Central Asian States' security policies are carried out institutionally within the framework of regional and international organizations together with other intra-regional and non-regional actors. On this macro-level, while policies regarding the solution of the security problem due to nuclear weapons in the post- 1990 region are at the forefront, since 2001, the terrorism-related concern has prompted the countries in the region to develop policies against threats at international (regional/non-regional major powers) and regional levels. On the micro level, while the security of regional countries is in question, threats and challenges towards regional countries for Central Asian security, attempts of regional countries and the formation of regional integration without external actors, events in the region after the 2000s in terms of political security will be analyzed. Also, unemployment and labour migrant issues will be considered in terms of economic security.
Understanding Central Asia’s Security and Economic Interests
India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, 2019
Central Asia has always been at the centre of global power play, due to its geographic location in the centre of Eurasia and its abundant natural resources that have attracted world attention. It has, however, been caught in the vortex of international politics. An interplay of globalisation, technology and geopolitics is evident in the evolving Eurasian politics. Connectivity projects, rail, road and energy pipelines are criss-crossing the region. Its geographical proximity to Afghanistan—part of its geopolitical space—impinges on its efforts to build peace and stability. Regional cooperation is gradually taking shape in Central Asia and holds the promise of their status as independent entities. As Afghanistan is crucial for them, as well as for the world at large, understanding the security and economic issues of Central Asia becomes important. This article apart from highlighting the security and economic interests would also delineate the challenges accompanying these issues kee...
Security Questions in Central Asia.pdf
Tayyar ARI, 2008
The region of Central Asia has been very vital for all the hegemonic objectives and became the focal point of the struggle among the great powers in the world throughout history. Because of this reason, in the geostrategic terminology, this region was called a heartland or pivot area by Mackinder who is a geostrategic theorist. He stated that who rule this area, rule the world. In history, Napoleon and Hitler tried but failed. However, since the Soviet Union was sovereign in this geography, its major power position lasted more than 50 years. In this paper, regional importance, global competition, destabilizing factors, and security problems will be discussed in the context of post-Soviet security architecture in the region.
Geopolitics at the World's Pivot: Exploring Central Asia's Security Challenges
2015
Central Asia’s five countries — the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan — hold considerable geopolitical significance for global security. The Central Asian countries share borders with Russia, China, Iran and Afghanistan, and are rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, uranium, coal, gold, copper, aluminum and hydroelectric power. Central Asia’s unique geopolitical placement, valuable resources and the legacy left by the former Soviet Union have resulted in a host of complicated security challenges, including water security and transboundary water management; energy security; terrorism; narco-trafficking; migration and human trafficking; nuclear security; and border management. The issues transcend national boundaries and lend themselves to multilateral approaches. To date, regional cooperation has been piecemeal and stymied by the fact that many issues are inherently tangled with the others. C...
The Strategic Central Asian Arena
China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly, 2006
Central Asia has emerged as a pivotal arena of international security, with an enhanced strategic significance that has superseded the region's geographic isolation and geopolitical marginalization. Security in Central Asia is now a key factor in the broader calculus of Russian, Chinese, and American interests. Moreover, stability in both Central Asia and along its periphery further impacts a secondary set of states, including India, Iran and Japan. This paper examines the interests of the various powers in Central Asia and the quest for stability and security in the region.
The New Great Game Revised- Regional Security in Post-Soviet Central Asia
2016
bekistan gained independence in 1991 after over a century of Russian and Soviet rule, none of the republics was fully prepared for the conse-quences from the collapse of the USSR. Their sociological profiles were shaped by Soviet policies and their economic situation was a function of a Soviet planned economy. Their political elites did not have any experi-ence concerning international relations either, as their external borders and affairs were quite strictly controlled by the USSR. They were inex-perienced actors exposed from the very beginning to intensive political pressure of foreign powers aspiring to broaden their own influence in the post-soviet space. The young republics were not the only actors surprised with the ge-opolitical change. The disintegration of the USSR marked a frantic be-ginning of a so-called New Great Game (Rashid, 1997). Since 1991 this concept has formed a predominant theoretical framework used for anal-yses of political changes taking place in post-sovi...
Regional Security: The Current Situation and Future Trends in Central Asia
International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science, 2023
In an interconnected world, the security of a nation is closely intertwined with the security of its neighboring regions. Regional security changes have the potential to significantly impact a nation's overall security. In the geopolitical and geo-economic scenario, the strategic position and possession of a state or region remains challenging issue as evident from the evolving strategic scenario of 21st Century international politics. 1 In this framework Central Asian region is considered to be of major strategic significance because of its geopolitical position. In addition, the region possesses some of the important energy resources, mainly oil and gas, and access to them is of strategic significance to all involvedregional as well as the external players. This study aims to provide an overview of the current situation of Central Asian countries and their prospects in security. Geographically Central Asia, the central part of Asia, this region is directly bordered by influential players in international relations. Central Asia is bordered by the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north. 2 The region consists of former Soviet republics such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. 3 Central Asia has been an area of geopolitical interest due to its strategic location and abundant natural resources. To understand the current situation and future trends in regional security, it is essential to consider a few key factors. First of all, the Political Stability: Central Asia comprises Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. While these nations have made progress in political stability since gaining independence from the Soviet Union, challenges persist. Authoritarian governance, limited political pluralism, and ethnic tensions have occasionally affected stability in the region. Next, Terrorism and Extremism: Central Asia has faced the threat of terrorism and extremism, primarily from groups like the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), the Taliban, and now the Islamic State (IS). Also, it is Poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and political repression have contributed to the vulnerability of Central Asian populations to radicalization. The intricate balancing act of Central Asian states is examined through the concept of multi-vectors, a strategy used by these nations to diversify foreign alliances and resist domination by any single power. 4
The New Great Game: Rivalry of Geostrategies and Geoeconomies in Central Asia
Hrvatski geografski glasnik/Croatian Geographical Bulletin
The paper studies rivalry of geostrategies and geoeconomies in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region. These regions have strategic value, particularly considering oil and gas reserves, which also represent a peril to the regional security. After centuries of Russian dominance, Central Asia became a region with five independent states. The Russian influence declined in the 1990s, only to return gradually, but its rivals have shown up. The USA and China started a quest for Central Asian and Caspian Sea oil and gas. The US presence in Iraq, the US and NATO's presence in Afghanistan, US military bases, Russian presence and military bases, China's rising influence, Iran's and Turkey's proximity to the region, and military and economic alliances, show that Central Asia is an arena of great power rivalry. The balance of power, instability and struggle for control over oil and gas reserves mean that the new Great Game has started.
bilig, 2024
In this study, Central Asia is addressed within the framework of the Regional Security Complex Theory. In the Regional Security Complex theory developed by Barry Buzan and Ole Waever, Central Asia is defined as a sub-complex that constitutes the Post-Soviet Regional Security Complex but claims that it can become a separate complex under certain conditions. Twenty years after their pioneering study, the continuities and changes in the region have necessitated an analysis of where the authors' claim stands. Therefore, in this study, the areas that need to be revised in the original work and the transformations have been evaluated. The study emphasizes the importance of political security in the region's transformation into a separate complex, but attempts to demonstrate that it cannot yet be considered a separate complex.