Stuck in the middle of different as well as relevant regional complexes, the Caspian Sea basin represents a critical geopolitical hub in the heart of Eurasia landmass. Political, economic as well as strategic considerations contribute to determine the systemic relevance of the Caspian Sea, whose reputation in the West is mainly linked to the vast availability of largely untapped oil and gas resources. However, behind the fierce competition aimed at the exploitation and transportation of the basin's hydrocarbons lies a much more complex picture, consisting of interlinked legal, military and soft power issues and threats.

Aim of the volume – result of a joint research project conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAM, Baku) and the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI, Milan) – is to address the relevance of the Caspian Sea in the post-bipolar international system, analyzing both soft and had security threats emerging form the basin, as well as the policies of littoral and extra-regional actors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD, Paolo Magri and Fikrat Mammadov

 

INTRODUCTION, Carlo Frappi and Azad Garibov

 

PART I - What is at Stake: Transitional Issues

1. Caspian ‘Sea’ and Its International Legal Status, Kamal Makili-Aliyev

2. Militarization of the Caspian Sea: Naval Arms Race and Conflicting Interests, Azad Garibov

3. Energy Infrastructure Protection and the Caspian Offshore, Matteo Verda

4. Escaping the Tragedy of the Commons: Environmental Cooperation in the Caspian Sea, Matteo Villa

 

PART II - Littoral State's Perceptions and Policies

5. The importance of the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects, Rovshan Ibrahimov

6. Russia in the Caspian Region: An Attempt to Preserve an Inherited Role, Tomislava Penkova

7. Iran's Policy in Caspian Sea Basin and Beyond: The Great Game 2.0, Reshad Karimov

8. Geopolitics of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan in the Caspian Region, Mukhit B. Assanbayev

 

PART III - Interests and Policies of Global and Regional Actors

9. On Regions and Regional Framings: The Missing Link between the European Union and the Caspian Sea Basin, Michela Ceccorulli

10. The Caspian Sea Basin in United States Strategic Thinking and Policies, Carlo Frappi

11. Chinese ‘Good Neighborhood Policy’ and Energy Diplomacy towards the Caspian Sea, Lorena Di Placido

12. Turkey's Policy towards the Caspian Sea Region: Widening Gap between Ankara's Expectations and Capabilities, Oktay F. Tanrisever

* The book has been published by Egea and it is available on store (printed copy) or on egeaonline.it (printed copy and e-book)