MOSCOW’S AFGHAN DRUGS GAMBIT
By Richard Weitz (11/30/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)
One reason why the Russian and Central Asian governments have become increasingly supportive of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan is their concern regarding the export of Afghan narcotics into and through their countries. These governments have become increasingly worried that NATO’s ongoing withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan will result in their having to confront the problem of narco-trafficking largely by themselves. Mutual concerns about Afghanistan are helping to drive Moscow and Washington to cooperate despite their persistent differences over other issues, but major disagreements over the U.
THE FISCAL POSITION OF THE SOUTH CAUCASUS COUNTRIES
By Ramiz Rahmanov and Zaur Valiyev (11/30/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)
With economic recovery, the governments of Armenia and Georgia managed to reduce budget and current account deficits; however, the gross government and external debts still remain to be significant. To reduce the debt risks, their governments need to increase attractiveness of their economies for investments and boost exports. The other Caucasian republic, Azerbaijan, due to high oil revenues, does not experience any problem with balancing its budget and maintaining external sustainability.
PUTIN’S PLAN FOR EURASIA
By Richard Weitz (11/16/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)
In a lengthy newspaper piece published in early October, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin unexpectedly called on the former Soviet republics to join Moscow and create a Eurasian Union. Russia is already consolidating its recently formed Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Now the intent seems to be to expand the number of its members as well as to enlarge its functions and powers into something like the European Union.
JIHADISTS IN KAZAKHSTAN AND THE INCREASING INSTABILITY IN CENTRAL ASIA
By Dmitry Shlapentokh (11/16/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Kazakh law enforcement recently claimed to have broken up a “terror group” in a Kazakh town. While jihadist terrorism has been a part of the Central Asian political landscape for a long time, these events deserve special attention. This is not only because several similar events have recently taken place in Kazakhstan, but also due to the country’s special conditions where jihadism has previously been a most marginal occurrence.
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Staff Publications
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, U.S. Policy in Central Asia through Central Asian Eyes, May 2023.
Analysis Svante E. Cornell, "Promise and Peril in the Caucasus," AFPC Insights, March 30, 2023.
Oped S. Frederick Starr, Putin's War In Ukraine and the Crimean War), 19fourtyfive, January 2, 2023
Oped S. Frederick Starr, Russia Needs Its Own Charles de Gaulle, Foreign Policy, July 21, 2022.
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, Rethinking Greater Central Asia: American and Western Stakes in the Region and How to Advance Them, June 2022
Oped Svante E. Cornell & Albert Barro, With referendum, Kazakh President pushes for reforms, Euractiv, June 3, 2022.
Oped Svante E. Cornell Russia's Southern Neighbors Take a Stand, The Hill, May 6, 2022.
Silk Road Paper Johan Engvall, Between Bandits and Bureaucrats: 30 Years of Parliamentary Development in Kyrgyzstan, January 2022.
Oped Svante E. Cornell, No, The War in Ukraine is not about NATO, The Hill, March 9, 2022.
Analysis Svante E. Cornell, Kazakhstan’s Crisis Calls for a Central Asia Policy Reboot, The National Interest, January 34, 2022.
Book S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell, Strong and Unique: Three Decades of U.S.-Kazakhstan Partnership, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, December 2021.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell, S. Frederick Starr & Albert Barro, Political and Economic Reforms in Kazakhstan Under President Tokayev, November 2021.