Central Asia

Abstract:Following a brief historical overview of how great power competition in Central Asia emerged after the fall of the Soviet Union, this chapter focuses on the contemporary dynamics of the great power competition in the region. Specific attention is paid to the role of Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States as the main great powers involved. More specifically, the chapter demonstrates why and how Central Asia has developed into an arena of great power competition. While Russia still remains the main external partner of all five Central Asian countries, its position as the region’s sole hegemon has increasingly been eroded as China has made a remarkable rise and Central Asia has both attracted interest from and reached out to a wider range of external powers. The region’s geostrategic location, straddling the space between Europe and Asia, and economic significance, most notably its energy and mineral resources, are appealing to all four foreign powers. Meanwhile, for China and Russia, the region holds still greater importance, and for Russia now arguably more than ever before.

ISBN:9781003340997

Publication year:2024

Accessibility:Embargoed