CACI FORUM: Investing in the Caucasus, Greater Central Asia and Mongolia: Challenges and Opportunities
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
CACI FORUM
"Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst"
Investing in the Caucasus, Greater Central Asia and Mongolia: Challenges and Opportunities
CACI FORUM: Central Asia’s Quest for a Useable Past: The Search for the Ancient Sogdians
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
CACI FORUM
"Central Asia-Caucasus Institute"
Central Asia’s Quest for a Useable Past: The Search for the Ancient Sogdians!?
All new countries must face the problem of their past. In an effort to affirm a useable past, some countries have simply to recall what they have never forgotten; others seek to rediscover what they have lost; while still others fabricate new pasts for themselves that better suit their current needs. In this Forum distinguished archaeologist and historian Aleksandr Naymark will show how globalizing Central Asians have followed the second course, rediscovering the amazing ancient Sogdians.
CACI FORUM: The Social Basis of Politics in Central Asia
Wednesday, March 27 2013
CACI FORUM
"The Central Asia Caucasus Institute"
The Social Basis of Politics in Central Asia
What is the social basis of politics in Central Asia? Analysts have spoken of "clans," "power brokers," "regional elites," and "oligarchs." Are any of these relevant? And is there one or more model, or is each state unique? Three experts present their insights on this key problem, and offer their own answers.
CACI FORUM: The Impact of Events in the Arab World on Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey, Part II
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
CACI Forum
"Central-Asia Caucasus Institute"
The Impact of Events in the Arab World on Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey, Part II
On April 18 CACI offered a program on “Impact of Events in the Arab World on Central Asia, the Caucasus and Turkey” featuring US diplomats and experts. On April 26 we return to the same subject, this time with analyses and views from seven rising leaders from Central Asia and the Caucasus, CACI’s current Rumsfeld Fellows.
Rebirth of domino theories following the upheavals that began in Tunisia and Egypt were first applied to other Arab countries. What are the arguments for and against such a hypothesis as it applies to the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus? The purpose of this session will be to gain fresh perspectives from young opinion leaders from the region on how their respective states and publics are responding to the Arab events including the likely course of developments in each one.
CACI FORUM: The Impact of Events in the Arab World on Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey
Monday, April 18, 2011
CACI Forum
"The Central-Asia Caucasus Institute"
The Impact of Events in the Arab World on Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey
Among the many consequences of the upheavals that began in Tunisia and Egypt has been a dramatic rebirth of domino theories. First applied to other Arab countries, they are now being discussed with respect to countries further afield, including Central Asia, the Caucasus and Turkey. What are the arguments for and against such a hypothesis as it applies to the countries of these regions,, and how will it affect their foreign policies? What evidence has emerged in these countries in support of both the pro and con sides of the argument? What, if anything, is likely to occur, where, why, and how? How are regional states and publics responding to the Arab events and what is the likely course of future developments there? These questions will be addressed by a panel of experts and by an audience that will include many persons with detailed knowledge of the regions in question.
News
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Read CACI Chairman S. Frederick Starr's recent interview on the resurgence of Imperial Russia with The American Purpose
Why Russians Support the War: Jeffrey Gedmin interviews S. Frederick Starr on the resurgence of Imperial Russia.
The American Purpose, May 23, 2023
Jeffrey Gedmin: Do we have a Putin problem or a Russia problem today?
S. Frederick Starr: We have a Putin problem because we have a Russia problem. Bluntly, the mass of Russians are passive and easily manipulated—down to the moment they aren’t. Two decades ago they made a deal with Vladimir Putin, as they have done with many of his predecessors: You give us a basic income, prospects for a better future, and a country we can take pride in, and we will give you a free hand. This is the same formula for autocracy that prevailed in Soviet times, and, before that, under the czars. The difference is that this time Russia’s leader—Putin—and his entourage have adopted a bizarre and dangerous ideology, “Eurasianism,” that empowers them to expand Russian power at will over the entire former territory of the USSR and even beyond. It is a grand and awful vision that puffs up ruler and ruled alike.
What do most Russians think of this deal? It leaves them bereft of the normal rights of citizenship but free from its day-to-day responsibilities. So instead of debating, voting, and demonstrating, Russians store up their frustrations and then release them in elemental, often destructive, and usually futile acts of rebellion. This “Russia problem” leaves the prospect of change in Russia today in the hands of alienated members of Putin’s immediate entourage, many of whom share his vision of Russia’s destiny and are anyway subject to Putin’s ample levers for control. Thus, our “Putin problem” arises from our “Russia problem.”
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CACI director Svante Cornell's interviewed on the 'John Batchelor Show' podcast regarding Turkey's 2023 presidential election
Listen to CACI director Svante Cornell's recent interview on the 'John Batchelor Show' podcast regarding Turkey's 2023 presidential election. Click here!
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New Article Series on Changing Geopolitics of Central Asia and the Caucasus
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CACI Initiative on Religion and the Secular State in Central Asia and the Caucasus
In 2016, the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program launched an initiative on documenting the interrelationship of religion and the secular state in the region. This initiative departed from the fact that little systematic reserch had been undertaken on the subject thus far. While there was and remains much commentary and criticism of religious policy in the region, there was no comprehensive analysis available on the interrelationship of religion and the state in any regional state, let alone the region as a whole. The result of this initiative has been the publication of six Silk Road Papers studying the matter in regional states, with more to come. In addition, work is ongoing on a volume putting the regional situation in the context of the Muslim world as a whole.
Case Studies
Each study below can be freely downloaded in PDF format.
Azerbaijan's Formula: Secular Governance and Civil Nationhood
By Svante E. Cornell, Halil Karaveli, and Boris Ajeganov
November 2016
Religion and the Secular State in Kazakhstan
By Svante E. Cornell, S. Frederick Starr and Julian Tucker
April 2018
Religion and the Secular State in Uzbekistan
Svante E. Cornell and Jacob Zenn
June 2018
Religion and the Secular State in Kyrgyzstan
Johan Engvall
June 2020
Religion and the Secular State in Turkmenistan
Victoria Clement
June 2020Articles and Analyses
Svante E. Cornell, "Religion and the State in Central Asia," in Ilan Berman, ed., Wars of Ideas: Theology, Interpretation and Power in the Muslim World, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2021.
Svante E. Cornell, "Central Asia: Where Did Islamic Radicalization Go?" in Religion, Conflict and Stability in the Former Soviet Union, eds. Katya Migacheva and Bryan Frederick, Arlington, VA: RAND Corporation, 2018.