Turkish Dilemma: Problems in being a Greater Caspian Force?
In the wake of Turkey’s recent election – supposedly fraught with corruption and fraud – and amid some of the worst violent outbreaks it...
Not Just About Assad: Explaining the Russian-Iranian Axis in Syria
Russia and Iran – both members of the Caspian Five – believe they have acted as a main force for stability in the Caspian...
China: Team Players or Team Captains?
As China, projected to be the dominant state of the next century, continues to grow exponentially, many regional and global powers are concerned about...
Fighting the Shadow Silk Road: Anti-trafficking Efforts across the Caspian
Most conversations about the Caspian countries revolve around the region’s political and economic developments and Central Asia’s new Silk Road initiatives that seek to...
Kazakhstan Steering through Troubled Waters
Earlier this year, the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan announced a new campaign called “Invest in Kazakhstan,” which was designed to attract foreign investors....
Exposing Geopolitical Moral Relativism
With all eyes on Iran, the human rights abuses that continue in the repressive country of Turkmenistan have taken a back seat. Despite pressure...
Russian Victim? Repositioning Strategies and Regional Dreams of Dominance
As a new wave of non-Western countries strive to elevate their profiles and expand their global influence, Russia is taking steps to help secure...
Iran’s Competing Futures: Global Economic Participant or Regional Religious Hegemon?
As the official deadline for the nuclear deal approaches, many are expressing their apprehension over the consequences that may emerge should a deal be...
The Foundation of Central Asia: Kazakhstan’s Journey from Past to Future
Of the five Central Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – Kazakhstan was the last Soviet Republic to leave the USSR....
Azerbaijan as a Model of Civility in the Caspian Region
To many around the world, Azerbaijan is considered a remote and mysterious place. If they have even heard of it. This is surprising because...