REGIME SECURITY vs. IMPERIALIST GEOPOLITICS: WHICH FACTORS DOMINATE THE DECISION MAKING OF THE CENTRAL ASIAN STATES?
REGIME SECURITY vs. IMPERIALIST GEOPOLITICS: WHICH FACTORS DOMINATE THE DECISION MAKING OF THE CENTRAL ASIAN STATES?

Summary/Abstract: Following the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991, powerful actors acting according to an imperialist geopolitical approach, such as Russia, China, the United States, European Union, Turkey and Iran, pursued a foreign policy aimed at dominating the regional states. However, the items on the agendas of Central Asian leaders were quite different from those of the powerful states. In the first years of their independence, the leaders promised to adopt democratic reforms. But in the course of time they constructed authoritarian regimes. After reinforcing their power over the political mechanisms, the leaders gave priority to the preservation of their regimes, or in other words maintenance of their posts, while determining the domestic and foreign policies. The leaders, acting in view of these concerns, have avoided close relations with the countries who threatened or criticized their regimes, and in order to preserve their regimes they were not reluctant to be in contact with the rival great power(s). In this respect, they have objected to democratization in their countries, and by keeping in mind the balances among different clans within their countries they have spent their time so as to protect their posts. In the meantime, the privileged clans have also supported the existing policies of the leaders.

• Details
• Contents