The Not-So-Great Game in Central Asia
The recent request of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to the United States to set deadlines for the temporary use of its bases in Central Asia, and Uzbekistan’s subsequent demand…
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Central Asia
206 posts
Alternative Interpretation of the Russian-Ukrainian Gas Crisis
The month-long conflict between Russia and Ukraine over the price of Russian gas has pitted images against policy. In recent years, the image of Russia has been largely negative while…
Russia’s Muslims: A Growing Challenge for Moscow
In dealing with Russia’s Muslim minority, the government in Moscow is facing a challenge that is likely to become more serious in coming years. By most estimates, self-identified Muslims make…
Manas Matters: The Changing Politics of the U.S. Military Base in Kyrgyzstan
From July 2005 to July 2006 the status of the Manas (Ganci) U.S. military base in Kyrgyzstan became a central issue in U.S.-Kyrgyz relations and within Kyrgyz domestic politics. During…
Disrupting the Balance: Russian Efforts to Control Kazakhstan’s Oil
Kremlin has been reestablishing state ownership over its domestic extraction industries while driving foreign investors out. It has also used monopoly state control over its gas pipelines to exert political…
Depoliticizing Manas: The Domestic Consequences of the U.S. Military Presence in Kyrgyzstan
Over three years since the United States established military bases in Central Asia to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the military installation at Manas airport continues to define many aspects…
Ethnic Migration: A Challenge to Russian Border Security?
Russia is one of the world’s top destinations for migrants, mainly from post-Soviet states but also increasingly from elsewhere in Asia, especially China. While precise assessments differ, the number of…
Revolutions and Religion in Central Asia
Unable to achieve change through the ballot box, the Kyrgyz and Uzbeks have taken to the streets in an effort to turn out their authoritarian leaders. Despite divergent outcomes, the…
Interacting through Migration: How Can Russia Benefit and Learn From Its Asian Neighbors?
Has Russia been missing out on the economic benefits of labor migration—particularly to and from Asia—and if so, in what manner and to what extent? What lessons or best practices…
Uzbekistan: The Risks and Responsibilities of Democracy Promotion
A disturbing question about the massacre that occurred in Uzbekistan three days after President Bush praised “people power” in Tbilisi is whether the demonstration effect of the movements that unseated…