Central Asia 18 - PONARS Eurasia

Russia’s Counterrevolutionary Offensive in Central Asia

Counterterrorism has never been a convincing Russian strategy for Central Asia. At the start of Vladimir Putin’s presidency, attempts to impress upon the leaders of the five Central Asian states that only…

Difficult Engagements: Political Lessons from the K2 Experience

In July 2005, the government of Uzbekistan expelled the United States from the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) air base from which U.S. forces had conducted reconnaissance and support missions for Operation Enduring…

Understanding the Impact of the K2 Closure

On July 29, 2005, President Islam Karimov ordered the U.S. military facility at Karshi-Khanabad (K2), Uzbekistan to close down within 180 days. It now appears virtually certain that U.S. forces…

Avoiding the Great Game and Domestic Unrest in Eurasia

Central Asia’s growing instability has opened the region to a host of would-be political entrepreneurs. The March and May 2005 uprisings in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan underscored the weakness of Eurasian…

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…

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…

U.S. Military Bases in Post-Soviet Central Asia: Economic Lessons from Okinawa

The new United States and coalition force military bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, established in 2002, have not attracted much media attention in the West. Yet as we know from cases elsewhere…

In For Life: Leadership Succession in Post-Soviet Central Asia

Central Asian rule today is moving more toward dynasty than toward democracy. During the past decade, Central Asian leaders have rewritten, manipulated, even jettisoned constitutions so as to ensure their continued hold…

Quod Licet Iovi: Preemptive Use of Military Force in Russian Foreign Policy

In August-September 2002, Russia appeared to have a short romance with the U.S. policy of preemption, which was annoucned months before and made official in the National Security Strategy issued…

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Central Asia