Category: Central Asia Policy Briefs

The Central Asia Policy Briefs are the flagship publication of the Central Asia Program. This series discusses contemporary issues in the wider Central Asian region, with a specific, but not exclusive, focus on a broader definition of security.It invites experts with diverse backgrounds – academics, senior officials, civil society representatives, and journalists – to respond to timely subjects. The objective of the series is to stimulate policy-oriented debates and highlight multiple ways of interpreting the same event or policy.

The Political Economy of Withdrawal and Transition in an Afghan Market Town

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 12, October 2013 By Noah Coburn While the international community focuses on national-level issues, many of the factors that will determine the future stability of Afghanistan are local. Many… Continue reading The Political Economy of Withdrawal and Transition in an Afghan Market Town

Educational Reforms in Turkmenistan: Good Framework, Bad Content?

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 11, September 2013 By Slavomír Horák Turkmenistan’s education system has gone through considerable changes and shifts in the last few years, with ambiguous results. The extension of elementary as… Continue reading Educational Reforms in Turkmenistan: Good Framework, Bad Content?

Eurasia 2014: Into Thin Air

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 10, June 2013 By Eric McGlinchey Factors that produce democracy can produce violence. Drivers of reform are also drivers of radicalism. Predictable indeterminacy is the surprising suddenness of protest… Continue reading Eurasia 2014: Into Thin Air

If Only It Was Only Water… The Strained Relationship between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 9, May 2013 By Volker Jacoby In spite of ongoing brinkmanship from the two presidents, tensions between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are unlikely to escalate into large-scale violence. External intervention… Continue reading If Only It Was Only Water… The Strained Relationship between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

Moving beyond the Leadership “Parlor Game”: Foreign Investment and the Succession Issue in Kazakhstan

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 8, March 2013 By J. Edward Conway While it is no doubt true that the system of government in Kazakhstan concentrates power heavily in the executive branch, the mistake… Continue reading Moving beyond the Leadership “Parlor Game”: Foreign Investment and the Succession Issue in Kazakhstan

Discussing the Eurasian Customs Union and its Impact on Central Asia

Central Asia Policy Forum No. 4, February 2013 Putin’s Eurasian Union project, the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union and the Single Economic Space, raises many debates about the economic goals and political agendas behind them.… Continue reading Discussing the Eurasian Customs Union and its Impact on Central Asia

Turmoil Within the Taliban: A Crisis of Growth?

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 7, January 2013 By Antonio Giustozzi The main axis of intra-Taliban tension is between the Peshawar Shura and the Quetta Shura, there having been a significant transfer of power… Continue reading Turmoil Within the Taliban: A Crisis of Growth?

The Future of Russia’s Involvement in Central Asia

Central Asia Policy Forum No. 3, December 2012 Featuring Ariel Cohen, Senior Research Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Policy, Heritage Foundation, Jeff Mankoff, Deputy Director and Fellow with the CSIS Russia… Continue reading The Future of Russia’s Involvement in Central Asia

Don’t Oversell ‘Overspill’: Afghanistan and Emerging Conflicts in Central Asia

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 6, December 2012 By Neil Melvin A new approach to Central Asia is required to promote regional security stabilization. There is an attendant risk that the disorder and possible… Continue reading Don’t Oversell ‘Overspill’: Afghanistan and Emerging Conflicts in Central Asia

Game Over? Shifting Energy Geopolitics in Central Asia

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 5, October 2012 By Michael Denison One of the coordinates structuring geopolitics in Central Asia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union has been competition for development of the… Continue reading Game Over? Shifting Energy Geopolitics in Central Asia

EU Central Asia Policy: Steady as She Goes

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 4, August 2012 By Jos Boonstra Over the last five years the European Union has built relations with the Central Asian region by opening EU Delegations, increasing political interaction,… Continue reading EU Central Asia Policy: Steady as She Goes

Selective Engagement: Russia’s Future Role in Central Asia

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 3, July 2012 By Anna Matveeva Russian domestic agenda is influenced by the discourse on drugs and crime due to migrants from Central Asia and urges to contain them.… Continue reading Selective Engagement: Russia’s Future Role in Central Asia

Discussing the ‘New Silk Road’ Strategy in Central Asia

Central Asia Policy Forum No. 2, June 2012 Featuring Geoffrey PYATT, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Michaela PROKOP, political economist focusing on regional economic cooperation issues, Gael RABALLAND, PhD in… Continue reading Discussing the ‘New Silk Road’ Strategy in Central Asia

Cybersecurity in Central Asia: Real Issues, False Excuse?

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 2, June 2012 By Marlene Laruelle Kazakhstan is increasingly subjected to everyday cyber-insecurity. The main issue of cybersecurity in Central Asia is related to energy infrastructure and major industrial… Continue reading Cybersecurity in Central Asia: Real Issues, False Excuse?

Regulating Private Security Companies in the Central Asian States

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 1, May 2012 By Erica Marat Central Asian states relinquish their monopoly on the use of power in favor of shared responsibility with non-state actors. Kazakhstan is the only… Continue reading Regulating Private Security Companies in the Central Asian States

The US Military Involvement in Central Asia and Its Impact on US-Central Asia Relations

Central Asia Policy Forum No. 1, April 2012 Featuring Stephen BLANK, Research Professor of National Security Affairs at the United States Army War College, Alexander COOLEY, Tow Professor of Political Science at Barnard College… Continue reading The US Military Involvement in Central Asia and Its Impact on US-Central Asia Relations