The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst
VOL. 14 NO. 1, 11 JANUARY 2011
Welcome to the website of the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, the biweekly journal of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center.
This issue features analytical articles on Uzbekistan's role in the CSTO, implications of the Arab spring in Eurasia, unrest in Western Kazakhstan, and Pakistan's rwo with the U.S.. In Field Reports, articles on electoral fraud in the North Caucasus, a murder with religious overtones in Dushanbe, evidence of an extrajudicial execution in Tajikistan, and liberalization of Armenia's tax system.
Please download PDF here - the link on the right is temporarily dysfunctional due to technical problems. 9 January 2012 BIWEEKLY TURKEY ANALYST
This sister publication to the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst features analysis and coverage on Turkish domestic and foreign policy. Issue no. 1, 9 January 2012 is now online, with articles on the arrest of Turkey's former Chief of General Staff and Turkey's dispute with Cyprus over natural gas fields.

EURASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA: SOVIET SYNDROME AND GEOPOLITICAL REVERSAL?
In 2011, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation initiated the creation of a Eurasian Union. This largely amounted to a restoration of the historically recurring idea of reunifying the former Soviet Republics, albeit on a new, “democratic” basis. The initiative revealed, however, a new trend – a geopolitical reversal in the post-Soviet space. By and large, this trend seems incapable of taking the upper hand over other geopolitical tendencies that have been unfolding in this part of the world since 1991 due to the lack of exactly a “democratic foundation”.
KAZAKHSTAN’S ELECTIONS: ASPIRATIONS FOR DEMOCRACY AMIDST EXPECTATIONS OF PATERNALISM
IRAN SANCTIONS: WHAT IMPACT FOR THE SHAH-DENIZ PROJECT?
The sanctions recently introduced by the U.S. and other states against Iran over its continuing nuclear program constitute the culmination of two years of discussion in the U.S. Congress, the UN, the EU and the IAEA. However, it is unclear whether Iranian investments in Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz gas field through the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) will be subject to the new sanctions. Their omission in the new round of sanctions through the Iran Threat Reductions Act (ITRA) makes the Shah Deniz project safe for now.
OBAMA’S NEW CENTRAL ASIAN STRATEGY AND ITS IMPEDIMENTS
During the past year, the Obama administration has developed its first comprehensive strategy for Central Asia. The strategy is still closely tied to Afghanistan, but the intent is to construct a more benign regional environment in which the U.S. and its NATO allies can transfer leadership responsibilities to the Kabul government and its security forces as well as the supporting regional actors. If implemented, the U.S. would remain vigorously engaged in Central Asia in order to promote its security, good governance, and socioeconomic development while these governments partner to support Afghanistan. Yet, the strategy faces several major impediments that must be overcome in 2012.

- IRAN AND AZERBAIJAN CLASH OVER CYBER-ATTACKS AND ARRESTED TERRORISTS
(By: Mina Muradova - date added 25-01-2012) - KAZAKHSTAN’S PARLIAMENT BECOMES MULTI-PARTY
(By: Georgiy Voloshin - date added 25-01-2012) - NEW ROUND OF TENSIONS IN UZBEK-TAJIK RELATIONS
(By: Sergei Medrea - date added 25-01-2012) - TAJIK JOURNALIST ATTACKED IN MOSCOW
(By: Suhrob Majidov - date added 25-01-2012)
more...

- 11 January 2012 News Digest
(By: Alima Bissenova - date added 11-01-2012) - 14 December 2011 News Digest
(By: Alima Bissenova - date added 19-12-2011) - 30 November 2011 News Digest
(By: Alima Bissenova - date added 30-11-2011) - 16 November 2011 News Digest
(By: Alima Bissenova - date added 16-11-2011)
