Russia, Central Asia and Central Asia’s Neighbours

Abstract

The break-up of the Soviet Union in December 1991 necessitated the formulation of a Russian policy towards the former Soviet republics, twelve of which eventually joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Despite its professed espousal of democratisation and adherence to international law, the Russian government embraced the term ‘near abroad’ vis-a-vis the newly independent states – an early sign that Russia was not going to treat them in the same way as it treated other foreign countries. By default, it meant that the declared policy of cooperation with Western democracies in the post-Soviet space, especially Central Asia, would not last. And it did not – Russia moved to restore its domination over Central Asia in December 1992 when it intervened in the civil conflict in Tajikistan. Its penchant for picking up the pieces of the old Soviet empire under the guise of integrating the CIS countries changed its initial policy towards its Central Asia’s neighbours from cooperation with Turkey (viewed as a model of a Westernised, secular Muslim state) and wariness and containment of Iran (viewed as a model and exporter of Islamism) to apprehension of Turkish intentions and strategic partnership with Iran.