
In
Central Asia, like in no other area, the interests of many global players are
clashing. Central Asia involves the USA, Russia, China, the European Union,
India, Pakistan, and Turkey. Yet, despite its significance, Central Asia is not
an explosive hotspot that a fatal international conflict would be imminent. It
is, thus, a perfect playground for testing political strategies, alliances,
conflict management that could shape the global order of the 21st century.
Already in the 19th century, Central Asia was the stage of the Great
Game between the British and the Russian Empires that had immense repercussions
on the Great Power’s balance in Europe on the eve of World War I. This class
looks at Central Asia from a historical perspective and at some long-lasting
factors that determine the interests of foreign powers, including
(Post-)Colonialism, Eurasianism, Pan-Turkism, Islam(ism), and geopolitics. A
significant portion of the seminar is devoted to recent political projects like
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union, the newly
adjusted Central Asia strategies of both the US and the European Union.
- Trainer/in: europast europast
- Trainer/in: Wolfram von Scheliha