Central Asia & Caucasus

Russian National Security: Perceptions, Policies, and Prospects Michael H Crutcher Study by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "This anthology is the result of a conference titled “Russian National Security: Perceptions, Policies, and Prospects,” held at the Collins Center of the Army War College’s Center for Strategic Leadership from 4 through 6 December 2000."

Jihadi Groups, Nuclear Pakistan, and the New Great Game Dr M Ehsan Ahrari Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "In this monograph, Dr. Ehsan Ahrari, of the Armed Forces Staff College, assesses Jihadi groups from the framework of a new “Great Game” for influence in Central Asia involving an array of states. He argues that, if this competition leads to increased violence, outside states including the United States could be drawn in. On the other hand, if the region stabilizes, it could provide solid economic and political partners for the United States. A well-designed American strategy, Ahrari contends, might help avoid crises or catastrophe."

Promoting Stability in Central Asia Prof Bernard F Griffard Issue Paper by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "Central Asia and the Caspian Basin are the legatees of the Russian Empire’s and the former Soviet Union’s shortsighted extraction economy policies. As a result, these nations face environmental challenges unlike any other region in the world. A major natural or man-made disaster in any single country can threaten the fresh water supply and/or public health across the whole region. Such a major environmental disaster is a credible threat to national and regional stability. "

Responding to Environmental Challenges in Central Asia and the Caspian Basin (Summary) Dr Kent H Butts, Prof Bernard F Griffard Issue Paper by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "Conference planners faced the challenge that the number of issues dividing the Central Asia Republics is greater than those uniting them. It was necessary to identify a vehicle from which key issues could be addressed without being confrontational. Using the environmental security issue of disaster response planning as the primary topic, the conference clarified the environmental issues central to the security of the region and emphasized the importance of both military environmental stewardship and cooperative contingency planning in responding to these threats."

Responding to Environmental Challenges in Central Asia and the Caspian Basin Arthur L Bradshaw, Dr Kent H Butts, Prof Bernard F Griffard, LTC Edward L Hughes Study by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "Following the success of the Environmental Security Conference held in Oman in April 2000, U.S. Central Command conducted an Environmental Security Conference for Central Asia and the Caspian Basin from March 6-8, 2001 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The event was cosponsored by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment (DUSD-I&E), the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, and the Center for Strategic Leadership (CSL) of the U.S. Army War College."

U.S. Military Engagement with Transcaucasia and Central Asia Dr Stephen J Blank Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "The United States has adapted a strategy of engaging and enlarging the democratic community of states. Transcaucasia and Central Asia have become important testing grounds of this strategy, by virtue of their strategic location adjacent to Russia, the Middle East, and Europe’s periphery, and their large-scale oil and natural gas deposits."

Caspian Sea Environmental Security Game Arthur L Bradshaw, Dr Kent H Butts Study by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "The Caspian Sea and International Environmental Security Game was the second annual international environmental security exercise conducted by the Center for Strategic Leadership (CSL) of the U. S. Army War College. Held at the CSL’s Collins Center, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 16-17 November 1998, this year’s exercise focused on the energy resources, geopolitics, and environmental security of the Caspian Basin."

Opening Pandora's Box: Ethnicity and Central Asian Militaries LTC Dianne L Smith Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "Studies on ethnicity and the armed forces flourished during the Soviet era, but relatively little attention has been paid to the issue within the successor states. The republics of Central Asia are ostensibly ethnic—they are named after the “titular” ethnic group that supposedly predominates in each. But, in truth, they are artificial creations, the product of Soviet gerrymandering and various waves of ethnic emigration."

NATO After Enlargement: New Challenges, New Missions, New Forces Dr Stephen J Blank Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "In 1999 NATO will formally admit three new members and adopt a new strategic concept. In so doing, it will take giant strides towards effecting a revolutionary transformation of European security. On the one hand, it could be said that NATO enlargement closes the immediate post-Cold War period that began with the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. But on the other hand, enlargement raises a host of serious new issues for the Alliance and for U.S. policymakers that they must begin to address now. Bearing this fact in mind, the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) organized a conference with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in January 1998 to explore the new challenges confronting the NATO Alliance. These essays are the product of that conference."