Suchergebnisse

Efforts are currently being stepped up to create a Trans-Afghan transport corridor (TATC), motivated primarily by its vast transit capabilities and the role it can play in developing economic relations in the Central Asia region. Furthermore, it is important to note that building a transport infrastructure in Afghanistan capable of invigorating integration with neighboring states is not only vital for developing the country's economy, but also for ensuring its domestic political stability. Given their unique geographic location, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have advantageous conditions for creating and developing intercontinental transport corridors. For example, the main international transport corridors pass through the territory of Uzbekistan, which is one of the largest Central Asian states. This makes it extremely attractive from the viewpoint of Eurasian goods and passenger transit via the shortest route in essentially all directions. Moreover, intensive development of Uzbekistan's foreign trade demands organizing efficient international cargo carriage. On 18 June, 2003, in order to promote the restoration of Afghanistan's economy, raise its transit potential, and develop economic trade cooperation in the region, the heads of state of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran signed an Agreement on building international transport corridors via the Termez-Hayraton-Mazar-e Sharif-Herat-Meshed-Bandar Abbas route. It should be noted that full-fledged implementation of this project largely depends on how all-embracing and similar the interests of the regional states are, as well as on the level of their cooperation in this vector. This article analyzes the interests of those states involved in creating the TATC, as well as the prospects for its development.

This article compares causes and mechanisms of the mass mobilizations which took place in Kyrgyzstan in 2005 and 2010. The upheavals of 2005, the so called "Tulip Revolution," led to the ousting of President Akaev who was replaced by Kurmanbek Bakiev. In 2010, Bakiev himself had to flee the country after violent social upheavals. As this analysis shows, the causes for both series of events were similar: neopatrimonial rule and the elite's control of resources together with oppressive tactics stirred up discontent among wide parts of the population and instigated violent protest. The mechanisms of mass mobilization, however, differed considerably. While the revolution of 2005 was carried out as the concerted action of varied political forces and NGOs, which, supported by patronage networks and traditional institutions, offered material and solidary incentives for the crowds, the great mass of people who took part in the 2010 protests were spontaneously mobilized through purposive incentives when news of the killings spread through the media.

Der Beitrag beleuchtet die Rolle des Tribalismus im Kontext des Prozesses der Staatenbildung in der Republik Kirgistan und die daraus entstehenden Probleme für das Land. Schließlich unterminiert die Rivalität zwischen regionalen Stämmen des Nordens und des Südens die nationale Einheit und kann sich zur Ursache landesinterner Konflikte ausweiten. Die Erläuterung der Natur dieses Problems erfolgt aus der Perspektive des Institutionalismus, indem die Ursprünge des Tribalismus, seine Verortung in der Sozialstruktur sowie seine institutionelle Basis dargestellt werden. Der erste Abschnitt beschreibt zunächst in einem historischen Rückblick die traditionelle kirgisische Sozialstruktur. Der zweite Abschnitt umfasst sodann eine Analyse des Einflusses der Rivalität zwischen verschiedenen regionalen Gruppen, also klan-basierten Netzwerke, auf die Staatsstruktur. Der dritte Abschnitt bietet einen Überblick über die traditionellen Institutionen, welche den Konflikt zwischen regionalen Gruppen regeln. In einer Schlussbemerkung weist der Autor aber darauf hin, dass eine Tendenz der Anpassung der traditionellen Sozialstruktur und der traditionellen Institutionen an die veränderten wirtschaftlichen und politischen Rahmenbedingungen zu beobachten ist. (ICG2)

Der Verfasser legt zunächst auf theoretischer Ebene eine Analyse des kasachischen Nationalismus vor, die an Andersons Nationalismustheorie anknüpft. Im Vordergrund steht hier vor allem Andersons Verknüpfung von Kapitalismus und Drucktechnik ("print-capitalism"), deren Logik die Verbreitung der einheimischen Sprachen und die Konstitution nationaler Identität und Geschichte erlaubt. Einen weiteren Schwerpunkt bildet die Politik der "Kasachifizierung", deren Ziel es ist, eine kasachische Nation als Basis des kasachischen Staates zu schaffen und die Zustimmung des nationalistischen Lagers in Kasachstan zu sichern, ohne die friedlichen Beziehungen zwischen den verschiedenen Ethnien zu gefährden. Abschließend formuliert der Verfasser Schlussfolgerungen in Bezug auf die Beziehungen zwischen Kasachstan und Russland. (BIOst-Wpt)

The purpose of this study is to identify China's geopolitical interests in Central Asia and to analyze its political and economic cooperation with the region. During the research, the main principles underlying the Chinese foreign policy were revealed and analyzed. The provisions of the work can be used to further study of this problem, as well as in the teaching of disciplines related to international relations. At the same time, problem-chronological and historical-comparative methods were applied. First of all, China's priority interests in Central Asia were reviewed and analyzed. Further, the spheres of multilateral cooperation implemented through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) were noted. Priority directions of China's foreign policy discourse were also disclosed. Particular attention was paid to the questions of Uyghur separatism and its influence on China's relations with the CAR countries. The points of contact of economic interests were identified through the Chinese initiative project "One belt, one way". In addition, the importance of energy security in the Central Asian region is emphasized. At the end of the paper, conclusions were drawn based on an analysis of current integration processes in the region.