The Atlantic – Joshua Foust : No Great Game: The Story of Post-Cold War Powers in Central Asia
This post is part of a 12-part series exploring how the U.S.-Russia relationship has shaped the world since the December 1991 end of the Soviet Union. Read the full series here.
Source: The Atlantic, 16 of Dec /2011
ASP Senior Fellow Joshua Foust is a featured author.
The mid-2000s also saw Russia emerge from its slumber. Under Presidents Vladimir Putin and then Dmitri Medvedev, Russia slowly revived its campaign for influence in the region, gaining concessions from the Central Asian rulers and sometimes challenging the U.S. for access and resources. As of 2011, Russia and the U.S. could best be called frenemies in Central Asia, with Russia chafing at the continued American presence even while its officials worryabout the consequences of an American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Viewing Central Asia as a competition for influence, however, misses the point; that is a contest that America could probably never win. Instead, what’s emerging is a tenuous collaboration: Russia and America working together to support and develop the region. Unthinkable 20 years ago, this new alignment of interests has the potential to be far more transformative than the fall of communism ever was.
This article is available online here.
