Central Asia: Managing the delicate balance between the “discourse of danger,” the “Great Game,” and regional problem solving

Abstract

This article concludes this special issue of Communist and Post-Communist Studies by summarizing the various contributions and noting their commonalties as well as dissimilarities. The primary themes are the various problems in need of solution in Central Asia and the surrounding “neighborhood” (e.g., Afghanistan), including identity-driven conflicts and various ways of handling them. The article reaches out from the academic researchers who have contributed the articles, to policymakers, especially in the U.S., who may be concerned with identifying and solving the problems of Central Asia and its neighborhood, noting the “unintended consequences” that may befall them for what they do or do not do in the region.

Contesting danger: a new agenda for policy and scholarship on Central Asia

“…23 Nevertheless, in the conclusion to the issue Sandole states that the collection of papers reasserts the 'real' problems and 'realities on the ground' of Central Asia. 24 'To that extent', he argues, 'they have succeeded in countering the "discourse of danger" while, at the same time, pointing to areas of concern that should be addressed by appropriate actors within the five societies concerned, the immediate neighbourhood as well as by the "concerned international community".' 25 His analysis provides a particular and determinist reading of conflict formation where poor education prompts migration which in turn generates family and social breakdown.…”

Hegemonic conflict in the Caspian region: Accumulation by dispossession and the spatial fix

“…The invasion and subsequent ten-year war had a strong ripple effect on the region. The geopolitics of this region has been dubbed "The Next Great Game" (Sandole 2007).…”

“…"Traditionally, this 'game' has been played between the British and Russian Empires, but now it is primarily between the United States, Russia, and China. The US is pushing for democratic transformation, which the Chinese and Russians view as antithetical to their goal of achieving and maintaining stability in the region" (Sandole 2007;Schmidle 2006;Weiss 2005;Zeigler 2007). Another factor to this is the potential "partnership" between Russia and China to keep the US/NATO expansion out of the region.…”