Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Dedication
List of Figures and Tables
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1. A Profile of the Caspian Basin
Chapter 2. Legal Classification
Chapter 3. Security Concerns
Chapter 4. Country Profile of Caspian States/Geopolitics of States
Chapter 5. Geo-Economics and Energy Dynamics of the Region
Conclusion
References
Appendix
Reviews
“A thoughtful, comprehensive, and balanced analysis of the complex interplay between geopolitics and geo-economics in Central Eurasia, and pivotal energy plateau – that of Caspian. We finally have an all-in reader that was otherwise chronically missing in international literature, which will hopefully reverse the trend of underreporting on such a prime world’s spot. Hence, this is a must-read book for those wondering about the future of one of the most dynamic and most promising regions of the world and what it could entail for both regional and external players.” -Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council
“Although of pivotal geopolitical and geo-economic importance, the Caspian energy plateau represents one of the most underreported subjects in the western literature. Interdisciplinary research on the topic is simply missing. This book by the three authors is unbiased, multidisciplinary, accurate, and timely. It is certainly a much-needed and long-awaited reader: a must read for scholars and practitioners, be it from Eurasia or beyond. Authors were able to tackle a challenging subject with a passion, knowledge and precision, and turn it into a compelling, comprehensive (yet concise) read which I highly recommend. It is truly a remarkable piece of work!” -Mr. Erzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Washington, D.C., USA; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Kazakhstan
“ARTNeT secretariat is pleased to see how our initial invitation to Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic to present at the ARTNeT Seminar Series in 2015 evolved. The talk was initially published as a working paper for ARTNeT (AWP 149). Now Prof. Bajrektarevic, in collaboration with another two co-authors, offers a comprehensive study on a nexus of legal, security, and environmental issues all emanating from and linked to energy cooperation (or lack thereof) in the subregion. This volume’s value extends beyond the education of readers on the Caspian Basin’s legal status (e.g., is it a sea or a lake?). It is just as relevant for those who want a more in-depth understanding of an interplay of economic, security, and political interest of players in the region and outside. With the global institutions increasingly less capable of dealing with rising geopolitics and geo-economic tensions, more clarity – even if only about some aspects of those problematic issues – should be appreciated. This volume offers such clarity.” -Mia Mikic, Director, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), ARTNeT coordinator
“This book on the Caspian Region by Anis Bajrektarevic and his two co-authors, Tanvi Chauhan and Mak Bajrektarevic, is a comprehensive overview of Central Asian area. Its very title is comprehensive and fitting. This region’s pivotal place – practically in the heart of world’s largest continental landmass, that of Eurasia – is masterfully covered: Their instabilities, energy security, including pipelines, and economic interests are only some of the areas covered. It even addresses the important legal classification of the Caspian Basin, this world’s largest inland (landlocked) water plateau. For me, the book offers a wonderful learning experience, because we in the west (of my generation) learned little of the history and even geography of the various states and peoples making up the Soviet Union. Our interest and preoccupations focused primarily on geopolitical issues associated with the cold war between the Soviet Union and the West led by the United States.” -Honorable Donald J Johnston PC OC QC, Former Minister of the Canadian Government, Secretary General of the OECD (1996-2006)
“The book by Professor Bajrektarevic and his co-authors embodies a wide-ranging overview of the intertwined interests pursued by the young democracies of the Caspian basin, battling with inherited land and water disputes, and their interplay with regional and global powers. Apparently, supporting political independence of the formers and promoting their integration into the latter’s markets requires adequate analyses, timely outreach policies and consistent engagement. In this sense the publication serves as one of the scarce handbooks to understand diverse interests of stakeholders, dynamically changing security architecture of the region and emerging opportunities of cooperation around the Caspian Sea.” -Ambassador Galib Israfilov, Permanent Representative to the UN Vienna and to the OSCE, Embassy of Azerbaijan to Austria
“The Caspian basin and adjacent Central Asian region (all being OSCE member states, apart from Iran) have, since the early Middle ages, acted as a crossroads between different civilizations and geopolitical spaces. In an increasingly interconnected world, growing geopolitical competition, economic interdependence and the emergence of new global challenges, particularly those related to water, energy and the climate emergency, have highlighted the relevance of this region, making it of increasing interest to researchers and academics. This book presents a thorough analytical compendium of historical factors, political dynamics, economic trends, legal frameworks and geopolitical interests which underpin, but also affect, the stability and development of this complex, diverse and strategically significant region.” -Ambassador Lamberto Zanier, Secretary-General, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (2011-2017), OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (2017-2020)
“It is my honor to reflect on this work on Caspian. Comprehensive and content rich, this book of professor Anis H. Bajrektarevic and his co-authors brings up comprehensively all the useful information on Caspian, with the geographical and historical background and cultural, economic as well as security aspects related to it. Authors’ novel and unbiased approach shall certainly help decision makers in their bettered understanding of the region that has centuries-long history of peace and cordial neighbourly relations. Long-needed and timely coming, I warmly recommend this reader to those who want to know, but more importantly to all those who want to understand, this pivotal region of the world.” – Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Former Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran to United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva & Vienna
