Debunking a Myth about Central Asia’s Borders

by Alexander Morrison Few parts of the world are the subject of as much sustained journalistic ignorance as Central Asia. News from what are patronizingly known as the “stans” rarely makes it into mainstream news outlets, except in connection to… Continue Reading

China’s Place in Central Asia

by Raffaello Pantucci China’s rise in Central Asia marks one of the most consequential changes in regional geopolitics since the turn of the century. China announced that it intended to be a major player in Central Asia back in September 2013,… Continue Reading

U.S. Signals Greater Focus On Central Asian Security

by Joshua Kucera The U.S.’s primary interests in Central Asia are making sure the region doesn’t become a terrorist sanctuary and protecting it from Russian influence, a senior State Department official has testified. The statement suggests a shift in Washington… Continue Reading

Iran as Regional Catalyst

by Shireen T. Hunter The relative thaw in Iran’s economic and political relations with Europe and Japan, and the improvement in its economic prospects, has thus far been received with a degree of anxiety by other major regional players such… Continue Reading

Economy and Sanctions Derail Russia’s Central Asian Investments

by Peter Leonard After years of embarking on promising forays into Central Asia’s economy, Russia is being forced to pare back its ambitions. The starkest retreat of Russian money is seen in Kyrgyzstan, whose parliament voted overwhelmingly last week to… Continue Reading